Question

one of the pioneers of investigative news reporting was ida tarbell, a journalist in the late 1800s. read the passage. then answer the question below. in 1870, u.s. industrial giant john d. rockefeller started the standard oil company. it used unfair practices to achieve near - monopoly status, controlling about 90% of the nations oil business. ida tarbell began an investigation into this powerful company in an attempt to uncover how it got so big. here are some steps she took: she collected hundreds of thousands of documents from across the country about standard oil. she interviewed experts, competitors, and standard oil employees. she used her research to write newspaper articles alerting the public to the unfair practices she had uncovered. tarbells research forced americans to consider that the nations most successful businessman was making illegal deals to drive smaller oil refineries out of business. based in part on her investigation, the government split standard oil into many smaller companies. tarbells work helped create a new type of reporting called investigative journalism, using in - depth research to expose corrupt activities or other injustices. tarbells methods are considered standard journalism practice today. based on the passage above, which statements describe changes inspired by tarbells reporting? select two. reporters known as sensational journalists began exaggerating details in order to interest readers. powerful figures came under greater scrutiny as reporters held them accountable for their actions. the government passed laws significantly limiting the ability for journalists to investigate monopolies. reporters began to conduct more extensive research and analysis when writing articles.

Explanation:

The passage states that Tarbell's work helped create investigative journalism, which uses in - depth research to expose corrupt activities. This implies that reporters started doing more research (as in the fourth option). Also, her work led to the government splitting Standard Oil, showing that powerful figures (like Rockefeller) were held accountable (as in the second option). The first option about sensational journalists is not related to Tarbell's influence. The third option about the government limiting journalists' ability to investigate monopolies is the opposite of what happened.

Answer:

• Powerful figures came under greater scrutiny as reporters held them accountable for their actions.
• Reporters began to conduct more extensive research and analysis when writing articles.