Read the excerpt from Chapter 3 of Wheels of Change . Taken together, these floor-length petticoats and the dress that covered them could weigh 25 pounds—even more when the unfortunate woman got caught in a rainstorm. Plus they were unsanitary. During a casual stroll, an unsuspecting fashion plate could pick up cigar ends, cigarette butts, discarded food, tiny insects, and animal droppings as her clothing swept the ground. Which best characterizes the effect of the floor-length petticoats?
Answer
A
Short-term effect: They picked up debris on the street.
B
Short-term effect: They helped women move more easily.
C
Long-term effect: They became popular as athletic wear.
D
Long-term effect: They easily became dirty in daily life.
Explanation
The excerpt says that as women walked, their floor-length clothing swept the ground and picked up cigar ends, food, insects, and animal droppings. That describes an immediate effect of wearing the petticoats, not a long-term change. So the best choice is “Short-term effect: They picked up debris on the street.”
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