Final answer:
The highly partisan political environment today is far from civil, as ideological opponents no longer collaborate across party lines to pass productive legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a. civil. Today's highly partisan political environment is far from civil; not so long ago, ideological opponents were still able to set aside differences and work across party lines, as is typically necessary to pass productive legislation. However, in recent decades, party polarization has increased, leading to a more contentious and divisive political climate. For example, in the United States, members of the Democratic and Republican Parties used to work together across party lines on legislation. However, since the early 1980s, that has become less common, with members increasingly only supporting legislation if it comes from their own party. This lack of civil discourse and cooperation has made it more difficult to pass productive legislation and find common ground on important issues.