Question

In paragraph five of the excerpt from The Higher Education of Women, which excerpt most effectively advances the author's premise that increasing access to higher education for women benefits all of humankind?

a) ...women who can think as well as feel, and who feel none the less because they think...
b) ...women quick to see and eager to help the needs of this needy world-
c) ... and sending out yearly into the arteries of this nation a warm, rich flood of strong, brave, active, energetic, well-equipped, thoughtful women...
d) -women whom the world has long waited for in pain and anguish till there should be at last added to its forces and allowed to permeate its thought the complement of that masculine influence which has dominated it for fourteen centuries.

Answer 1

Excerpt c) effectively supports the premise that access to higher education for women benefits society by describing the positive influence educated women have as crucial to national progress.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the options provided, the excerpt which most effectively advances the author's premise that increasing access to higher education for women benefits all of humankind is c) ...and sending out yearly into the arteries of this nation a warm, rich flood of strong, brave, active, energetic, well-equipped, thoughtful women... This passage specifically highlights the positive impact that educated women can have on society as a whole, enhancing the idea that their contributions are vital for national progress and well-being. The metaphor of educated women being like a 'warm, rich flood' into the nation's 'arteries' suggests not only a rejuvenating force but also an essential one that sustains and improves the body (nation).

It aligns well with the narrative that empowered women who are armed with education are an indispensable resource in a progressive, thriving society. They represent a wave of potential and capacity that can invigorate various sectors, drive reforms, and bring about a greater balance in societal dynamics. This option is also the most encompassing, directly connecting the education of women to a broader societal benefit, echoing sentiments found throughout history that promote better education as a foundation for not only individual success but also collective advancement.