Question

In 1842, Charles Dickens visited the United States, particularly the Lowell Mills in Massachusetts, due to his interest in the treatment of factory workers. The following is an excerpt from his observations.

Which of these generalizations does Dickens support in the passage?

a) The factories in Britain produce finer goods than the ones in Lowell.

b) The working and living conditions in Britain are far more miserable than in Lowell.

c) The factories in Lowell and Britain are very similar.

d) Both the British and American governments have worked to improve working conditions.

Answer 1

Charles Dickens likely supports the generalization that the working and living conditions in Britain were far more miserable than those in Lowell, given the context of his observations and the harsher living conditions depicted in his novels.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Charles Dickens visited the United States in 1842 and observed the Lowell Mills, he would likely support the generalization that the working and living conditions in Britain were far more miserable than those in Lowell, Massachusetts, based on the context provided.

While the mills in Lowell had dismal conditions, including long work hours in a noisy and hot environment and the women being paid less than men, there were also 'wholesome' activities and certain social protections in place, which contrast with the lack of real wage increase and the worsening living conditions described in Britain. Additionally, Dickens's sympathetic depiction of the poor in his novels suggests an inclination to highlight the harsher conditions found there, not only in the workhouses but also in the industrial regions as a whole.