The new school of political history that emerged in the 1960’s and

6. The information in the passage suggests that a pre-1960’s political historian would have been most likely to undertake which of the following studies?

(A) An analysis of voting trends among women voters of the 1920’s
(B) A study of male voters’ gradual ideological shift from party politics to issue-oriented politics
(C) A biography of an influential nineteenth-century minister of foreign affairs
(D) An analysis of narratives written by previously unrecognized women activists
(E) A study of voting trends among naturalized immigrant laborers in a nineteenth-century logging camp

It is a tricky question. If I were to read just the first 2 lines of the passage, I would agree with you that both (B) and (C) look correct.

The new school of political history that emerged in the 1960’s and 1970’s sought to go beyond the traditional focus of political historians on leaders and government institutions by examining directly the political practices of ordinary citizens.

Traditional focus of political historians was on LEADERS and on Govt insti by examining practices of ordinary citizens.

(B) A study of male voters’ gradual ideological shift from party politics to issue-oriented politics

Sounds like voting practice of ordinary citizens (anyway women were excluded)

(C) A biography of an influential nineteenth-century minister of foreign affairs

Focus was on leaders.

So both sound right. But, we must consider the entire passage and not just the first line.

Last sentence:
In the twentieth century, more men drew closer to women’s ideas about politics and took up modes of issue-oriented politics that Baker sees women as having pioneered.

In 20th century, men took up issue-oriented politics. So any study of male voter's gradual ideological shift from party politics to issue-oriented politics would happen in 20th/21st century i.e. under new school. This is not something a pre-1960’s political historian would have taken up.