Question

question 2 of 10
the large profits of american companies such as united fruit and cuyamel fruit were dependent upon:
a. using skilled labor in central america.
b. getting licenses from the u.s. government.
c. using wealth to influence governments in central america.
d. getting tax breaks from the u.s. government.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Central American labor in the fruit industry was often unskilled or exploited, not skilled, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: These companies' profits weren't mainly from U.S. government licenses, as their operations were in Central America, so B is wrong.
• Option C: Companies like United Fruit (United Fruit Company) used their wealth to influence Central American governments (e.g., for favorable land, labor, and trade policies), which is consistent with historical context.
• Option D: Tax breaks from the U.S. government weren't the primary source of their large profits, as their key operations were abroad, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. Using wealth to influence governments in Central America.