Question

Use the excerpt from Eugene Debs's "How I Became a Socialist" to answer the question.

Through all these years I was nourished at Fountain Proletaire. I drank deeply of its waters and every particle of my tissue became saturated with the spirit of the working class. I had fired an engine and been stung by the exposure and hardship of the rail. I was with the boys in their weary watches, at the broken engine’s side and often helped to bear their bruised and bleeding bodies back to wife and child again. How could I but feel the burden of their wrongs? How the seed of agitation fail to take deep root in my heart?

Which of the following statements best summarizes the passage?

(1 point)
Responses

Debs was born into a life of privilege.

Debs was born into a life of privilege.

Debs was influenced by articles written by muckrakers.

Debs was influenced by articles written by muckrakers.

Debs was moved by the hardships faced by business owners.

Debs was moved by the hardships faced by business owners.

Debs had endured and shared the harsh working conditions of laborers.

Answer 1

Debs had endured and shared the harsh working conditions of laborers.

He describes working with railroad men, enduring exposure and hardship, and feeling the burden of their wrongs—showing solidarity with laborers.