Question

passage 2
the brief essay by author and college professor charles augustus eggert was published in california in 1913 as part of the collection why i am opposed to socialism: original papers by leading men and women. socialism was a popular and controversial theory at that time, four years before the russian revolution. no government had yet tried to put the theory of socialism into practice.
why i am opposed to socialism
by charles augustus eggert
i am opposed to socialism, first, because it is not an inductively obtained system, but an “ism” that postulates qualities in the individuality of a nation which no nation, or community even, has yet developed to a sufficiently high state to make this “ism” fit to be seriously tried.
which sentence best states two central ideas that support blanc’s argument in passage 2?
individuals who are willing to work can work for money, and contractors can decide how much to pay them.
middle class people make money by running small businesses, and poor people work for others for pay.
some political economists argue that competition is a good thing, and others believe that it harms most people.
private property limits poor people’s access to accepted natural resources, and competition

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option in the context of Blanc's argument (assuming Blanc supports socialist or related ideas, but since the passage here is "Why I Am Opposed to Socialism", we need to find which option aligns with supporting Blanc's argument, likely about economic or social structures). However, the provided passage for "Passage 2" is not fully visible. But from the options:

• Option 1: Talks about individuals working for money and contractors deciding pay (more capitalist, not supporting socialist argument).
• Option 2: Middle class running small businesses, poor working for others (describes existing economic structure, not directly supporting an argument for change).
• Option 3: Discusses differing views on competition (not central to supporting an argument about socialism).
• Option 4: "Private property limits poor people’s access to... " (If Blanc argues for socialist ideas, this shows a flaw in private property, supporting his argument about needing change, like socialist principles of shared resources).

Assuming Blanc's argument is about issues with private property and economic inequality, the fourth option (though text is cut, but from the start "Private property limits poor people’s access...") is the best as it highlights a problem with the capitalist system (private property) that socialism might address.

To determine the best sentence, we analyze each option:

• Option 1 describes a capitalist labor dynamic (not supportive of a socialist - leaning argument).
• Option 2 simply states existing class - based economic roles, not a persuasive point for change.
• Option 3 focuses on differing views of competition, not central to a socialist - related argument.
• Option 4 (beginning with “Private property limits poor people’s access...”) identifies a flaw in private property (a core capitalist institution), which would support an argument (like Blanc’s, likely critical of capitalism) for systemic change (consistent with socialist - aligned reasoning about resource distribution).

Answer:

(The option starting with) Private property limits poor people’s access to... (assuming this option’s full content supports Blanc’s argument about economic inequality or the flaws of private property).

(Note: Since the full text of the fourth option is cut, but based on context and typical socialist - related arguments, this option is the most logical to support an argument critical of capitalist private property and in favor of more equitable systems.)