Final answer:
Households heightened their energy savings as a reaction to rising energy costs, choosing to cut back on less valued items to adjust their budget. This conservation became a habit, influenced by a sense of social obligation and community during economic hardships. Option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question seems to explore why families not only maintained but also heightened their energy savings.
The passage suggests that the motive behind this increase in energy conservation stems from a combination of factors including the rising cost of energy. It is implied that households react to these costs by reducing consumption on what they value least, thus adjusting their budget to maintain a balance.
When energy prices increase sharply, it affects the household budget, forcing families to make decisions about where they can cut back on consumption.
Choices such as less frequently dining out, postponing trips, or delaying the purchase of new appliances are examples of how some households react to the need to save more on energy.
Therefore, based on the passages given, the most fitting answer to the question would likely be option C) They experienced a sense of social obligation and commitment.
Since the passages mention habits developed during tough economic times, and the unity and sharing of resources, it suggests a culture of conserving and being mindful about consumption, which continues even as the immediate need wanes due to developed habits and sense of community commitment. option C.