The following passage came from an information source on page 600.
Air Pollution in Victorian England
by Jane Victoria
England's Victorian Era, arguably 1837-1901, was influenced heavily by the Industrial Revolution. Factories and railroads were everywhere. And with these modernizations came air pollution, especially in big cities such as London. Other cities particularly affected by air pollution include Liverpool, Sheffield, and Yorkshire. Even though the openings of factories may have brought about new jobs, they also brought about fog and smog. Smog led to increased illness among the people; emphysema and pneumonia became commonplace, especially among the poor and homeless.
Charles Dickens, one of the Victorian Era's most famous writers, describes Victorian London in his 1853 novel Bleak House: "Fog everywhere. Fog up the river . . . fog down the river. . . . Fog in the eyes and throats. . . . " The government passed the Alkali Act in 1863, and an amended Act in 1874, which called for inspectors to ensure industries met certain standards regarding pollutants. The Act proved difficult to enforce, however, and poor air quality remained an issue of great concern in major British cities for some time.
Which of the following most accurately paraphrases the effect air pollution had on Victorians?
A.
The poor air quality in Victorian England was hard to control; the government tried to help, but failed miserably (Victoria 600).
B.
The poor air quality in Victorian England made catching diseases such as pneumonia and emphysema easy (Victoria 600).
C.
The poor air quality in Victorian England is best left to be described by the famous writer Charles Dickens (Victoria 600).
D.
The poor air quality in Victorian England increased illness among the people; emphysema and pneumonia became commonplace (Victoria 600).