Question

background information: in this passage, a witness recalls an event surrounding a district communist party conference during the great purge. at the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to comrade stalin was called for. of course, everyone stood up. ... the small hall echoed with \stormy applause, rising to an ovation.\ for three minutes, four minutes, five ... the applause continued. but palms were getting sore and raised arms were already aching. and the older people were panting from exhaustion. it was becoming insufferably silly even to those who really adored stalin. however, who would dare to be the first to stop? ... after all, nkvd men were in the hall applauding and watching to see who quit first! and in that obscure, small hall, unknown to the leader, the applause went on - six, seven, eight minutes! ... they couldnt stop now till they collapsed with heart attacks! ... then, after eleven minutes, the director of the paper factory ... sat down in why was the director of the factory arrested and sent to the gulag? for refusing to applaud for committing a crime against the state for failing to rise from his seat for being the first to stop clapping

Explanation:

The passage describes a situation during the Great Purge where people were clapping for Stalin, and NKVD was watching who quit first. The factory director was the first to stop clapping, which led to his arrest. The other options: refusing to applaud (he did applaud until he stopped), committing a crime against the state (no such crime shown), failing to rise (he stood up initially) are incorrect.

Answer:

D. for being the first to stop clapping