Question

petition from the yorkshire cloth workers, 1786
the manufacturing clockmen (workmen that operate machines, of wool before the wool is spun into cloth) have thrown thousands of your petitioners out of employ, whereby they are brought into great distress, and are still able to support their families, and deprived them of the opportunity of bringing up their children in labour. we are therefore to represent that population and skill whereon may be laid aside, and that you may pay that attention to the following facts, which the nature of the case requires.
the number of carding machines exceeding about twenty-three miles south-west of leeds, exceeds all belief, being no less than one hundred and seventy. and so each machine will do as much work as twelve men, or less men time in three days by hand (speaking within bounds) and they working night and day: one machine will do as much work in one day as would otherwise employ twenty men.
twelve men are thrown out of employ for every single machine used in carding; and as it may be supposed the number of machines in all the other partitions (regions) together are nearly equal those in the south-west, full 8,000 men are left to shift for a living how they can. ... allowing one boy to be bound apprentice from each family out of work, eight thousand hands are deprived of the opportunity of getting a livelihood.
we therefore hope that the feeling of humanity will lead those who have it in their power to prevent the use of these machines.
source: leeds intelligencer, june 11, 1786. quoted in j. f. c. harrison, society and politics in england, 1780 - 1860. harper and row, 1965.

1. what is the most useful information about the context in which this petition was written?

(1) the use of machinery in factories was spreading.
(2) population growth was increasing demand for clothing.
(3) workers were moving from rural to urban areas.
(4) the roles for men and women were changing.

1. what is the point of view of the petitioners?

(1) they were concerned about losing their jobs.
(2) they wanted the company to make a profit.
(3) they wanted consumers to have the best clothes, which are hand - made.
(4) they were focused on expanding markets into new countries.

Explanation:

Question 5

To determine the most useful context info, analyze the petition. It focuses on machinery (spinning machines) causing job loss. Option (1) about machinery use spreading matches. Option (2) (population - clothing demand) isn't in the text. Option (3) (rural - urban migration) isn't mentioned. Option (4) (gender roles) is irrelevant. So (1) is correct.

The petitioners (cloth workers) are upset about machinery taking jobs (e.g., "Twenty men are thrown out of employ for every single machine..."). Option (1) (concerned about losing jobs) fits. Option (2) (want company profit) is opposite. Option (3) (want hand - made clothes for consumers) isn't stated. Option (4) (expanding markets) is irrelevant. So (1) is correct.

Answer:

(1) The use of machinery in factories was spreading.

Question 6