Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

"Among all the major belligerents, the United States alone managed to grow its civilian econoray even while producing prodigious quantities of armaments and other supplies for itself and its allies. The civilian economies of both the Soviet Union and Great Britain shrank by nearly one-third during war time. In the United States civilian consumption expanded by nearly 15 percent. The war forever banished the Depression and ignited the economic after-burners that propelled the American economy to unprecedented heights of prosperity in the postwar decades." David M. Kennedy, historian, academic article, 2019

Which of the following kinds of evidence would most directly support the economic comparison made in the passage?

Rationale

The gross domestic product of the United States and that of the Soviet Union in 1941 and 1945.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a primary indicator of economic performance and would directly illustrate the economic comparison between the United States and the Soviet Union during the specified years. Comparing the GDPs would provide concrete evidence of how the economies diverged, particularly in light of the claims about growth and decline during wartime.

A (The amount of territory controlled by the Soviet Union and the amount controlled by Great Britain in 1941 and 1945) YOUR ANSWER

Territorial control does not directly relate to economic performance or civilian economic growth. While it may reflect military success or strategic advantages, it does not provide insight into the economic conditions or civilian consumption levels discussed in the passage.

B (The size of the United States military and the size of the Soviet Union's military in 1941 and 1945) YOUR ANSWER

Military size is indicative of wartime efforts but does not reflect the economic health or civilian economic growth of a nation. The passage focuses on civilian economies, making military size an irrelevant measure for economic comparison.

C (The birth rate of the United States and that of Great Britain in 1941 and 1945) YOUR ANSWER

Birth rates may offer some demographic insight but do not directly correlate with economic performance or civilian consumption levels. The passage emphasizes economic expansion and decline, making birth rates less relevant to the economic analysis.

Conclusion

The most relevant evidence to support the economic comparison in the passage is the GDP of the United States and the Soviet Union during the war years. This measure provides a clear and quantifiable basis for understanding how each country's economy performed relative to the other in terms of growth and decline, aligning perfectly with the passage's claims about wartime economic conditions. Only GDP can accurately reflect the economic realities that underpin the assertions made regarding civilian consumption and overall economic health.

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