Question

passage: from factories to flags
1 in the late 1700s, life in many parts of the world began to change faster than it ever had before. for generations, families had worked at home or on farms, producing just enough food or goods to survive. then machines powered by water and steam entered the scene, and everything sped up. this period of rapid change became known as the industrial revolution. while it began with inventions like the spinning jenny and steam engine, its effects reached far beyond factories and cities. in fact, the industrial revolution set off a chain reaction that helped lead to a new era of global control known as imperialism.
2 as factories grew, so did their needs. machines required huge amounts of raw materials such as cotton, coal, rubber, and iron. at the same time, factory owners wanted to sell their finished products—textiles, tools, and machines—to as many people as possible. however, many european countries did not have enough natural resources within their own borders, nor did they have unlimited customers at home. as a result, industrialized nations began looking outward, beyond europe, to solve these problems.
3 this search for resources and markets pushed powerful countries to expand their influence over other regions. imperialism, the policy of extending a nation’s power by controlling land or people elsewhere, became a solution. european nations claimed territories in africa, asia, and the middle east, often arguing that they were bringing education, technology, or civilization. many of these areas were really taken because they provided valuable resources that could keep factories running and profits high. railroads, ports, and mines were built not to help local populations, but to move goods back to industrial nations.
(second break)
imperialism had serious consequences for the people who lived in colonized...

Explanation:

The question about the author's purpose mnemonic (PIE) falls under the Arts discipline, specifically in the subfield of Literature (or related to reading comprehension/academic writing). PIE stands for Persuade, Inform, Entertain, which are common author's purposes. So the blanks should be filled with these three terms.

Answer:

First blank: Persuade, Second blank: Inform, Third blank: Entertain