Question

we may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat, or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the next twenty. but even this is admitting more than is true; for i answer roundly, that america would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no european power taken any notice of her. the commerce by which she hath enriched herself are the necessaries of life, and will always have a market while eating is the custom of europe.
—common sense, thomas paine, 1776
not everyone in the colonies supported the idea of a revolution against england. in this passage, thomas paine is refuting which argument against having a revolution?

a. the colonies could not survive without british support.

b. the colonies could not protect themselves from france without british troops.

c. the colonies do not have the military training to beat britain.

d. the colonies could not trade with france because they are a part of britain.

Explanation:

In the passage, Thomas Paine argues that America would have flourished (and more so) without European (British) notice. He says the commerce that enriched America is for necessities of life, which will always have a market in Europe. This refutes the idea that the colonies needed British support to survive. Option B is about protection from France (not mentioned in the passage), C is about military training (not discussed), and D is about trading with France (the passage is about commerce with Europe in general, not about being unable to trade with France due to British affiliation). So the argument he refutes is that the colonies could not survive without British support.

Answer:

A. The colonies could not survive without British support.