Question

virginia louise minor was a womens suffrage movement activist. the following is from a report she prepared for the national woman suffrage associations convention in 1884:
report of the movement for woman suffrage in missouri
to making my report as vice president for missouri, it can only be in the most general manner, for in expression of the sentiment of women has been given by active organizations. so far as i am able, it is to be said the isolated condition of our population makes it extremely difficult for them to inform or obtain information distinctively relating to themselves. since my last report, suffrage meetings have been held and largely reported by a part of the press, and a number of organizations, both protective and beneficiary have been formed, and many of them connected with trades. it is impossible to obtain, but accurate statistics. a medical college for women, a womans exchange, a manual training school, and a training school for women nurses, have been organized within the year. the number and standing of women physicians has steadily appreciated. of the whole number twelve are registered in st. louis.
six newspapers, wholly or in part, are edited by women, exclusive of those having in charge the society and fashion departments. while in art no classification can be reported, women are surely and steadily advancing, and, as usual, the theater has been first to recognize her ability—one of our handsome theaters having received its beautiful decorations, in part, from the hand of a woman.
(from “report of the movement for woman suffrage in missouri” by virginia l. minor march 1884)
what is the author’s main purpose in the passage?

1. to show that it is impossible to record women’s tally without better data
2. to emphasize that women need better ways of communicating over long distances
3. to convey that access to health care is an important battlefield in women’s rights
4. to describe the important contributions women are making despite the lack of voting rights

Explanation:

The passage is a report on the women's suffrage movement in Missouri, detailing women's progress in various fields (press, medical, fashion, theater) and their active organization. The main purpose is to show women's important contributions (in media, healthcare, arts) despite challenges, matching option 4's description of highlighting women's contributions despite lack of voting rights (context of suffrage movement implies voting rights struggle). Other options: 1 is incorrect (data is provided, e.g., 12 physicians, 51 papers); 2 focuses on communication methods, not main purpose; 3 emphasizes health care access as a battle, but the passage shows progress in health care (nursing school, women physicians) as part of broader contributions, not framing it as a battle for access.

Answer:

1. to describe the important contributions women are making despite the lack of voting rights