Which item was not a way by which Utahns contributed to the war effort?

A: planting victory gardens
B: making patriotic posters
C: joining the Central powers
D: prohibiting the teaching of German in schools

C: joining the Central powers is not a way Utahns contributed to the war effort. Joining the Central powers would have been considered aiding the enemy during World War I. Utahns may have made other contributions that helped the war efforts of the Allied powers during the war years.

The item that was not a way by which Utahns contributed to the war effort is option C: joining the Central powers.

To arrive at this answer, you need to be familiar with the context of the question, which suggests that there was war involvement in Utah. In particular, Utah's involvement in World War I can be inferred from the options given, as victory gardens, patriotic posters, and prohibiting the teaching of German in schools were all common ways in which citizens in many countries supported the war effort during this time.

By eliminating the options one by one, you can identify which one is not applicable.

Option A: Planting victory gardens was a significant way in which citizens contributed to the war effort during World War I. Victory gardens were encouraged to promote self-sufficiency in food production and conserve resources for the military.

Option B: Making patriotic posters was another common form of support during the war. These posters were used to inspire and motivate citizens to contribute to the war effort through various means, such as investing in war bonds or enlisting in the military.

Option C: Joining the Central powers is an option that can be eliminated. The Central powers, comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, were the opposing side during World War I. Joining them would imply fighting against the United States and its allies, which is unlikely given that the question refers to Utahns contributing to the war effort.

Option D: Prohibiting the teaching of German in schools was another way in which citizens supported the war effort. During World War I, anti-German sentiment was prevalent, resulting in the removal of German language instruction from many schools to promote nationalism and discourage support for the enemy.

Hence, by eliminating option C, joining the Central powers, we can determine that it was not a way by which Utahns contributed to the war effort.

The correct answer is C: joining the Central powers.