The Romans, having conquered almost the whole of Britain in the first

The Romans, having conquered almost the whole of Britain in the first century, retained possession of the southern parts for nearly four hundred years; and during their occupancy they not only instructed the natives in the arts of civilization, but also with their aid, as we learn from Tacitus, began at an early period to erect temples and public edifices, though doubtless much inferior to those at Rome, in their municipal towns and cities. The Christian religion was also early introduced, but for a time its progress was slow; nor was it till the conversion of Constantine, in the fourth century, that it was openly tolerated by the state, and churches were publicly constructed for its worshippers; though even before that event, as we are led to infer from the testimony of Gildas, the most ancient of our native historians, particular structures were appropriated for the performance of its divine mysteries: for that historian alludes to the British Christians as reconstructing the churches which had, in the Dioclesian persecution, been leveled to the ground. But in the fifth century Rome, oppressed on every side by enemies, and distracted with the vastness of her conquests, which she was no longer able to maintain, recalled her legions from Britain; and the Romanized Britons being left without protection, and having, during their subjection to the Romans, lost their ancient valor and love of liberty, in a short time fell a prey to the Northern Barbarians; in their extremity they called over the Saxons to assist them, when the latter perceiving their defenseless condition, turned round upon them, and made an easy conquest of this country. In the struggle which then took place, the churches were again destroyed, the priests were slain at the very altars, and though the British Church was never annihilated, Paganism for a while became triumphant.

1. Based on the passage, the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about Roman Britain?

A. The Romans’ abandonment contributed to a decline in the quality of life in Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries.
B. Britons preferred rule by Rome to self-rule.
C. Christianity did not take a firm hold in Britain until the fifth century.
D. Rome left Britain because of the rise of Paganism in the area.
E. The Northern Barbarians took advantage of Rome’s exit from Britain in order to conquer the region.

2. The last sentence of the passage serves what purpose in the structure of the passage?

A. Reveals the importance of Roman rule to Britain
B. Presents an opposing viewpoint on the importance of Roman rule in Britain
C. Turns the reader’s attention to fluidity of religious identity in early Britain
D. Emphasizes that while Paganism took hold in early Britain, the Christian church wasn’t eliminated
E. Contradicts earlier statements regarding the presence of Christianity in early Roman Britain

3. What is the best example given in the passage that reveals the way early Christian Britons made use of what Rome had left in their region?

A. That temples built in Roman Britain were inferior to those built in Rome
B. That Paganism soon took hold in Britain after the Romans left
C. That Constantine converted to Christianity
D. That the Britons called on the Saxons to help them
E. That the British used the existent foundations from otherwise destroyed Roman churches in the region for their new Christian churches