Question

analyzing the progression of events

new plays are written every year, courtesy of the new wave of playwrights: john lyly, thomas preston, and thomas hughes. the queen continues to encourage dramatic art, personally attending performances at grays inn, greenwich palace, and whitehall palace. in 1583 she establishes her own theater company, the queens men, and leading actors flock to it. puritans are enraged, and the following year the city authorities try to outlaw plays altogether, both within and outside the city walls. but now that drama has received royal approval, they dont stand a chance.
-the time travelers guide to elizabethan england, ian mortimer

based on the structure of the passage, which event most directly caused city authorities to try to outlaw plays?

new plays were written every year.
the queen encouraged dramatic art.
the queen attended a performance at grays inn.
the puritans become enraged at theatre growth.

Explanation:

Analyze the question prompt

The question asks which event most directly caused city authorities to try to outlaw plays, based on the structure of the passage.

Examine the text for cause-and-effect relationships

Using Cause and Effect Analysis, we look for the sequence of events leading to the city authorities' actions:

1. The queen establishes her own theater company in 1583, and leading actors flock to it.
2. "Puritans are enraged..."
3. "...and the following year the city authorities try to outlaw plays altogether..."

Identify the direct cause

The text directly links the enraging of the Puritans to the subsequent action by city authorities ("Puritans are enraged, and the following year the city authorities try to outlaw plays..."). Thus, the Puritans becoming enraged is the direct cause.

Evaluate the given options

• "New plays were written every year": This is background context, not the direct trigger.
• "The queen encouraged dramatic art": This led to the growth of theater, but is an indirect cause.
• "The queen attended a performance at Gray's Inn": This is a specific detail of her encouragement.
• "The Puritans become enraged at theatre growth": This directly precedes and triggers the city authorities' attempt to outlaw plays.

Answer:

• New plays were written every year.
• The queen encouraged dramatic art.
• The queen attended a performance at Gray's Inn.
• The Puritans become enraged at theatre growth. (Correct answer)