“Light in the Libraries” is an 1874 newspaper editorial advocating that public libraries remain open into the evening. The editor argues that restricted hours deny working people access to learning opportunities: _____
Which quotation from the editorial most effectively illustrates the claim?
For a command-of-evidence question, break the claim into its essential parts and test each quotation against all of them. Prefer the choice that directly supports the complete claim over choices that are merely related to the topic or require an unsupported inference.
Hints
Clarify the complete claim
Identify each group, time, and access condition in the claim. The evidence should support more than the general idea that libraries are valuable.
Look for all essential details
Check whether each quotation identifies working people, indicates that they are available after work, and shows that they cannot use the library.
Distinguish implication from direct evidence
A reference to darkness may suggest that a building is difficult to use, but determine whether the quotation actually establishes that people are denied entry.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the claim
The prompt summarizes the editorial’s argument: because libraries close too early, working people cannot use them when they are free in the evening, so they lose opportunities to learn.
Identify the required evidence
The strongest quotation should establish three ideas:
- Working people have finished their labor.
- They are interested in learning.
- The library is closed when they are available.
A quotation that addresses only one or two of these ideas will not support the complete claim as effectively.
Compare the choices
Choice A connects the end of the workday with the library falling into shadow, but shadow does not necessarily mean that the library is closed or that workers are being denied entry. Choice B describes successful morning access, and choice C discusses the general value of investing in books. Choice D explicitly identifies workers who are free after work, indicates that their curious minds are eager for books, and states that the library doors are locked.
Select the most complete evidence
Choice D most directly supports every part of the claim because it connects workers’ evening availability and desire to learn with the library’s locked doors.