While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
● Muckrakers were journalists who sought to expose corruption in US institutions during the Progressive Era (1897–1920).
● Ida Tarbell was a muckraker who investigated the Standard Oil Company.
● She interviewed Standard Oil Company executives, oil industry workers, and public officials.
● She examined thousands of pages of the companyʼs internal communications, including letters and financial records.
● Her book The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) exposed the companyʼs unfair business practices.
The student wants to emphasize the thoroughness of Ida Tarbellʼs investigation of the Standard Oil Company. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Explanation
Answer: 1) Ida Tarbell not only interviewed Standard Oil executives, oil industry workers, and public officials but also examined thousands of pages of the company's internal communications.
Goal: Emphasize the thoroughness of Tarbell's investigation.
Why? Thoroughness means comprehensive effort. Choice 1 shows both extensive interviews AND document review—demonstrating thoroughness.
Traps:
- B) Defines muckraker → context, not thoroughness
- C) Only mentions interviews → incomplete
- D) About the book → result, not investigation process