Question

fter he was inaugurated as the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his first radio address to the nation, explaining why he had temporarily closed the country's banks.

from Fireside Chat on Banking (1933)
by Franklin D. Roosevelt

We had a bad banking situation. Some of our bankers had shown themselves either incompetent or dishonest in their handling of the people's funds. They had used the money entrusted to them in speculations and unwise loans. This was, of course, not true in the vast majority of our banks, but it was true in enough of them to shock the people for a time into a sense of insecurity and to put them into a frame of mind where they did not differentiate, but seemed to assume that the acts of a comparative few had tainted them all. It was the Government's job to straighten out this situation and do it as quickly as possible. And the job is being performed.
I do not promise you that every bank will be reopened or that individual losses will not be suffered, but there will be no losses that possibly could be avoided; and there would have been more and greater losses had we continued to drift. I can even promise you salvation for some at least of the sorely pressed banks. We shall be engaged not merely in reopening sound banks but in the creation of sound banks through reorganization.
It has been wonderful to me to catch the note of confidence from all over the country. I can never be sufficiently grateful to the people for the loyal support they have given me in their acceptance of the judgment that has dictated our course, even though all our processes may not have seemed clear to them.
After all, there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system more important than currency, more important than gold, and that is the confidence of the people. Confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have faith; you must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system; it is up to you to support and make it work.
It is your problem no less than it is mine. Together we cannot fail.

3
Which statement would the author most likely agree with?
A.
Americans should view the banks as suspect because they lost money.
B.
Americans should change banks as soon a the nation's banks have stabilized.
C.
Americans should trust the government as it works to solve the financial crisis.
D.
Americans should spend their savings to stimulate the country's economy.
Reset

Answer 1

C. Americans should trust the government as it works to solve the financial crisis.

Roosevelt emphasizes confidence in the government's actions, asks people not to be "stampeded by rumors," and urges support for the machinery put in place to restore the financial system.