Read the quotation from Lincoln Steffens’s The Shame of the Cities."My purpose was . . . to see if the shameful facts, spread out in all their shame, would not burn through our civic shamelessness and set fire to American pride." According to Steffens, what was the purpose of muckraking journalism?
Answer
A
to encourage people to buy fewer newspapers
B
to encourage people to become muckraking journalists themselves
C
to encourage people to rise up against their government
D
to encourage people to take action against widespread corruption
Explanation
Steffens hoped that exposing shameful facts about corruption would overcome the public’s indifference and stir civic pride. The purpose was to motivate people to respond to widespread corruption, not simply to sell fewer newspapers or recruit more journalists. D, “to encourage people to take action against widespread corruption,” best matches his goal.
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