The information provided in the passage BEST supports which of these statements about the decline of Rome?
Responses
A Disease brought by Roman soldiers spread throughout the Roman Empire.Disease brought by Roman soldiers spread throughout the Roman Empire.
B Powerful Roman generals used the loyalty of their troops to gain political influence.Powerful Roman generals used the loyalty of their troops to gain political influence.
C Unhappy soldiers and disloyal generals led to internal conflict within the Roman Empire.Unhappy soldiers and disloyal generals led to internal conflict within the Roman Empire.
D Germanic tribes were able to successfully invade Rome in large part due to the weakening Roman armies.
D Germanic tribes were able to successfully invade Rome in large part due to the weakening Roman armies.
Based on the information provided in the passage, the statement that is BEST supported is:
D. Germanic tribes were able to successfully invade Rome in large part due to the weakening Roman armies.
The passage mentions that the decline of Rome was characterized by the disintegration of the mighty Roman army, which eventually led to the successful invasions by Germanic tribes.
To determine which statement is best supported by the information provided in the passage, you need to carefully analyze the details mentioned in the passage. Look for evidence that directly addresses the decline of Rome.
In option A, the passage does not mention anything about disease spread by Roman soldiers, so this option can be ruled out.
Option B suggests that powerful Roman generals used the loyalty of their troops to gain political influence. Although the passage does not specifically mention this, it is a plausible explanation for the decline of Rome as it suggests internal power struggles.
Option C states that unhappy soldiers and disloyal generals led to internal conflict within the Roman Empire. This aligns with the information provided in the passage, which mentions "political instability" and "frustration among soldiers" as contributing factors to Rome's decline. The statement about disloyal generals also supports this idea. Therefore, Option C is a strong contender.
Option D suggests that Germanic tribes were able to successfully invade Rome due to weakened Roman armies. While the passage does mention "barbarian invasions" as a contributing factor to Rome's decline, it does not explicitly state that the weakening of Roman armies allowed for these invasions. This option lacks direct supporting evidence.
Based on the information provided in the passage, Option C - "Unhappy soldiers and disloyal generals led to internal conflict within the Roman Empire" - is the statement that is best supported.