Question

q1. (2 points)
select the best answer from each list to complete the sentences
monopolies negatively impacted consumers during the gilded age by
tycoons and monopolies were able to dominate industries during the lat
reducing the availability of essential oils in urban areas
offering excessive discounts that hurt smaller businesses
prioritizing exports over the needs of domestic markets
charging higher prices due to the lack of competition

Explanation:

During the Gilded Age, monopolies (formed by trusts and monopolists dominating industries) had little competition. This allowed them to set higher prices for consumers since there were no other firms to offer lower - cost alternatives. Let's analyze the other options:

• "reducing the availability of essential oils in urban areas" is not a typical way monopolies exploited consumers during the Gilded Age, and the focus was more on industries like oil (Standard Oil), steel, etc., not just essential oils in a limited context.
• "offering excessive discounts that hurt smaller businesses" - while monopolies did drive out small businesses, the harm to consumers from excessive discounts doesn't fit as monopolies, after eliminating competition, raised prices, not gave excessive discounts to consumers.
• "prioritizing exports over the needs of domestic markets" - Monopolies' main exploitation of domestic consumers was related to pricing and competition in the domestic market, not export - related neglect of domestic needs.

Answer:

charging higher prices due to the lack of competition