Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 45%

After the victory of the revolutionary forces in 1783, General George Washington resigned his military commission and retired from public life. At that time, Washington's letters reveal, the retirement was intended to be a permanent one. Among other projects as a private citizen, he planned to improve his estate and to find a use for his outlying lands. Within a few years, however, Shays' Rebellion made clear to many the need for a national constitution. At the ensuing Constitutional Convention, Washington was chosen to represent Virginia, an honor he reluctantly embraced.

Which of the following sentences could be removed with the least impact on the structure and coherence of the paragraph?

Rationale

Among other projects as a private citizen, he planned to improve his estate and to find a use for his outlying lands.

This sentence provides additional context about Washington's intentions after his retirement but does not contribute significantly to the main narrative concerning his political involvement and the subsequent Constitutional Convention. Removing this detail would have minimal impact on the overall coherence of the paragraph.

A (Among other projects as a private citizen, he planned to improve his estate and to find a use for his outlying lands.) CORRECT

This sentence can be removed with the least impact because it merely details Washington's personal ambitions without affecting the core narrative about his political career and the events leading to the Constitutional Convention.

B (At that time, Washington's letters reveal, the retirement was intended to be a permanent one.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence is crucial as it emphasizes Washington's initial intention to retire from public life permanently. Removing it would disrupt the understanding of his mindset and the context surrounding his eventual return to public service.

C (Within a few years, however, Shays' Rebellion made clear to many the need for a national constitution.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence serves as a pivotal turning point in the narrative, linking Washington's retirement to the events that precipitated the Constitutional Convention. Its removal would create a gap in the logical flow of events leading to the need for a stronger national government.

D (After the victory of the revolutionary forces in 1783, General George Washington resigned his military commission and retired from public life.) YOUR ANSWER

This opening sentence establishes the timeframe and context of Washington's retirement. It is essential for understanding the sequence of events and cannot be removed without losing clarity about the historical setting of the narrative.

Conclusion

The paragraph revolves around George Washington's retirement and subsequent political developments. While all choices provide context, option A, regarding his personal projects, is the least integral to the central theme of his political trajectory and the constitutional necessity that arose from Shays' Rebellion. The other sentences are more tightly woven into the narrative, making their removal more detrimental to the paragraph's coherence.

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