Dix also joined a growing movement to improve conditions in prisons. Men, women, and children were often crammed together in cold, damp rooms. When food supplies were low, prisoners went hungry—unless they had money to buy meals from jailers.

Question

Five out of six people in northern jails were debtors, or people who could not pay money they owed. While behind bars, debtors had no way to earn money to pay back their debts. As a result, many debtors remained in prison for years.

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

Based on this excerpt from the text, which of the following is the BEST explanation for how the jailing of debtors hurt their chances of repaying their debts?

(1 point)
Responses

They spent all their money on food.
They spent all their money on food.

They were unable to earn money.
They were unable to earn money.

They often did not survive prison conditions.
They often did not survive prison conditions.

They had no way to send money to their lenders on time.

Answer 1

The BEST explanation for how the jailing of debtors hurt their chances of repaying their debts is:

They were unable to earn money.

This directly addresses the issue stated in the passage that while imprisoned, debtors had no means to generate income to repay what they owed.