Question

some of the malcontents published pamphlets and other works about their displeasure. the first excerpt is from one such pamphlet. the second excerpt is a work written in response to the first. read each excerpt and answer the question.
in the first excerpt, the authors say that oglethorpe has kept all earthly comforts from them. based on what you know about the malcontents, what are the authors arguing?
a the rules prevent them from establishing a comfortable life
b oglethorpe is taking all the resources of the lands for himself
c oglethorpe does not agree with the malcontents and is making life harder for them
... by keeping all earthly comforts from us: you have afforded us the opportunity of arriving at the integrity of the primitive times, by intailing a more than primitive poverty on us: the toll that is necessary to our bare subsistence, must effectually defend us from the anxieties of any further ambition: as we have no properties, to feed vain-glory and beget contentment; so we are not puzzled with any system of laws to ascertain and establish them...
from a true and historical narrative of the colony of georgia...
... without any regard to good manners or common civility, treat his excellency (as it were to his face) with such rudeness as ill becomes any person to use even to an inferior: however, i cannot say but a very fit prelude to such an inconsistent, spiteful, false narrative, as is subscribed to the dedication; a narrative founded in lies and misrepresentations, projected and published, a few persons of no estate, and as little character, persons sound in their tempers...
from an account, shewing the progress of the colony of georgia in...

Explanation:

The first excerpt mentions that Oglethorpe has "kept all Earthly Comforts" from the malcontents. This implies that the rules (as Oglethorpe was likely implementing rules) are preventing them from having a comfortable life. The second excerpt's negative description of Oglethorpe's actions (like the rudeness part, though it's more about the way of dealing but still related to how he made life harder in a sense) also supports that the main argument in the first excerpt is about the rules (Oglethorpe - related rules as he was in charge) preventing a comfortable life. Option B is wrong as the text says "kept...from them" not taking for himself. Option C is not directly supported in the first excerpt as there's no clear indication of Oglethorpe's agreement or not in the first - excerpt's main point (the second excerpt is more about behavior but the question is based on the first excerpt's authors' argument).

Answer:

A. the rules prevent them from establishing a comfortable life