Text 1
On April 26th, 1777, Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles by horse through Putnam County, New York, to gather up local militia. British forces were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut, and Ludington wanted to rally rebel troops to meet them. Although she was only 16 years old at the time, her brave feat made Ludington one of the heroes of the American Revolution. Since then, Ludington has been widely celebrated, inspiring postage stamps, statues, and even children’s TV series.
Text 2
Historian Paula D. Hunt researched the life and legacy of Sybil Ludington but found no evidence for her famous ride. Although many articles and books have been written about Ludington, Hunt believes writers may have been inventing details about Ludington as they retold her story. Ludington is revered by Americans today, but there simply isn’t a strong historical record of her heroic ride.
Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
Explanation
Context: Text 1 celebrates Sybil Ludington's famous 1777 ride as a heroic act that inspired statues, stamps, and TV shows. Text 2 reports that historian Paula Hunt found no contemporary evidence for the ride and suggests the story has been embellished over time through retelling.
Answer: C) Many people have come to admire the story of Sybil Ludington's ride.
Why? Text 1 describes Ludington as celebrated through "postage stamps, statues, and even children's TV series." Text 2 says "Ludington is revered by Americans today." Both texts confirm that many people deeply admire the story, regardless of whether both authors believe it happened.
Traps:
- A) Ludington was crucial to the outcome of the Revolutionary War → Text 1 calls her a "hero" but doesn't claim the war's outcome depended on her; Text 2 questions whether the ride happened at all
- B) Historians have confirmed her route → Text 2 explicitly says there's no strong historical record of the ride
- D) Ludington was likely not a real person → neither text questions her existence; Text 2 questions the specific ride, not the person