Question

read the excerpt from \george washington.\

from 1759 to the outbreak of the american revolution, washington managed his lands around mount vernon and served in the virginia house of burgesses. married to a widow, martha dandridge custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life. but like his fellow planters, washington felt himself exploited by british merchants and hampered by british regulations. as the quarrel with the mother country grew acute, he moderately but firmly voiced his resistance to the restrictions.

which is a relevant detail that supports the central idea in this excerpt?

• washington managed lands with the work of enslaved persons.
• washington felt exploited by british merchants.
• washington devoted himself to a busy and happy life.
• washington was married to martha dandridge custis.

Explanation:

Identify the central idea

The excerpt describes George Washington's life leading up to the American Revolution. It highlights his growing frustration with British merchants and regulations, culminating in his firm resistance to these restrictions as the conflict with Great Britain ("the mother country") intensified. The central idea focuses on the rising tensions and Washington's growing opposition to British control.

Evaluate the options using text evidence

Using Reading Comprehension and Text Evidence, we analyze how each detail relates to this central idea:

• Washington managed lands with the work of enslaved persons. This historical fact is not mentioned in the provided text.
• Washington felt exploited by British merchants. This directly supports the central idea of economic and political friction leading to his resistance ("Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations").
• Washington devoted himself to a busy and happy life. This is a minor personal detail that does not support the political shift toward resistance.
• Washington was married to Martha Dandridge Custis. This is a personal biographical detail unrelated to the central conflict with Great Britain.

Select the best supporting detail

The detail about feeling exploited by British merchants directly explains why Washington began to resist British restrictions, making it the key supporting detail for the central idea of the passage.

Answer:

• Washington managed lands with the work of enslaved persons.
• Washington felt exploited by British merchants. (Correct answer)
• Washington devoted himself to a busy and happy life.
• Washington was married to Martha Dandridge Custis.