Question

read the excerpt from the time travelers guide to elizabethan england
eight years later francis langley erects the swan on a site nearby; and in 1596 richard burbage builds the blackfriars theatre, an indoor venue, although it does not open its doors until 1599. most important of all, shakespeare, richard and cuthbert burbage, and their partners dismantle the theatre and remove its beams to a new site at southwark, where it is rebuilt in 1599 as the globe. when edward alleyn builds the fortune on the northern edge of the city in 1600, the array of elizabethan theaters is complete.
how does the author effectively show the establishment of elizabethan theaters?
by using a humorous and lighthearted tone
by randomly listing when certain theaters were built in the past.
by using a grave and critical tone
by listing in chronological order when several important theaters were built.

Explanation:

The excerpt mentions theaters with specific years: the Swan (built after an initial unspecified time, then 1596 for Blackfriars' construction, 1599 for Globe's rebuilding, and 1600 for Fortune. This sequential timeline shows the establishment process, matching the description of chronological listing of key theater constructions. The other options are incorrect—there’s no humor, listing isn’t random, and the tone is factual not grave/critical.

Answer:

D. by listing in chronological order when several important theaters were built