OA is B

Adultery and scandalous elements were attractive then as well

Veritas OA:

Solution: B

This is a Strengthen question, as evidenced by the phrase, “which of the following… most strengthens the argument.” Our first item of business is therefore to identify the conclusion of the author and then look for gaps between the conclusion and the premises. However, the Testmaker has made it difficult to identify the conclusion of the argument. Using the “why?” test to evaluate pieces of the argument help you to determine what the actual conclusion is. Normally, the last sentence in an argument is a prime candidate for the location of the conclusion (in fact, this is what the Testmaker wants you to believe for this particular problem.)

However, looking closer at the argument, it is obvious that the “why” of the last statement is to show that moral broadsides were not evidence most seventeenth-century people were serious about moral values. This is the logical gap: while the assumption exists that most seventeenth- century people purchased broadsides because the broadsides were moralizing, we actually don’t know why they were purchased. The answer choice should plug this logical gap.

Answer choice “A” is a distraction that fails to focus on the logical gap. Regardless of if the broadsides were of low quality, the body of the question indicates they were popular. Answer choice “A” still does not tell us why most seventeenth-century people purchased broadsides.

Answer choice “B” gives us an alternative people purchased reason for broadsides: why the most seventeenth-century moralizing aspect of the broadsides was rather minimal, and they actually “sensationalized” crime and adultery. This helps the author of the argument prove that we can’t assume most people purchased broadsides because the broadsides were moralizing. “B” helps strengthen the argument.

Answer choice “C” is at best irrelevant to the argument (since the original argument focuses on broadsides, not on pamphlet sermons.) At worst, answer choice “C” actually weakens the argument, since buying printed sermons would seem on its face to be evidence that the populace was serious about moral values.

Answer choice “D” focuses on the interests of the clergy, but fails to mind the logical gap. The argument in the body of the question makes a conclusion about “most seventeenth-century people.” Answer choice “D” makes no comment on “most seventeenth-century people,” and concentrates on a small group of people “occasionally” posting moral broadsides on alehouse doors. This cannot help explain the popularity of broadsides sold by street peddlers.

In like manner to answer choice “D”, answer choice “E” also focuses on the interests of a subgroup while failing to mind the logical gap. The argument in the body of the question makes a conclusion about “most seventeenth-century people.” Answer choice “E” makes no comment on “most seventeenth-century people,” and concentrates on only “well- educated people” who steered clear of both broadsides and street peddlers. Naturally, this cannot help explain the popularity of broadsides sold by street peddlers.
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Good Question... Bumping up!!

I cud not understand option B because of 'lacked', a printing error, that made me comprehend the exact opposite meaning. Pls correct the error.