Final answer:
In the 18th century, cricket was primarily a popular sport among the upper classes in cities, but over time it became a unifying sport enjoyed by all classes in all regions. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 18th century, cricket was originally a game that was particularly popular among the upper classes in cities. However, it also gradually became a sport enjoyed by all social classes across different regions.
Considering that other sports like prize-fighting and college football were associated with specific classes and urban advancements, cricket's popularity among the upper classes in cities during this period is the most accurate representation of its historical engagement.
Urbanization brought significant changes to the way social classes interacted with leisure activities. In rural areas, the diminishing populations and the shift toward urban centers meant that the sporting culture could also shift, blending the boundaries between classes and their preferred forms of entertainment over time.
The game of cricket, therefore, while beginning as a pastime of the elite, eventually found its way into the hearts of all classes in all regions, becoming a unifying sport with the power to bridge social gaps. The correct option is a.