Final answer:
World War I exacerbated existing social, economic, and political discontent in Russia, leading to a weakened government and the rise of the Bolsheviks who brought about the Russian Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
World War I directly contributed to the Russian Revolution by creating discontent among both soldiers and civilians, which weakened the government. This situation is best characterized by option (c): 'Created discontent among soldiers and civilians, weakened the government.' During the war, Russia suffered from high casualties, incompetence among military commanders, inadequate supplies, and deteriorating conditions on the home front with serious food shortages. The challenges to the tsarist autocracy were further amplified by the existing discontent with autocratic rule, economic instability, and the emergence of socialist and Marxist ideologies calling for significant reform. The Bolsheviks, under Lenin's leadership, capitalized on these issues, promising to withdraw from the war and address the pressing social and economic grievances. This ultimately led to the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty and the establishment of a socialist state.