Question

Read the quotation from Lincoln Steffens’s The Shame of the Cities.

"My purpose was...to see if the shameful facts, spread out in all their shame, would not burn through our civic shamelessness and set fire to American pride."

Which of the following best describes Steffens' purpose in writing about government?
to encourage Americans to feel more pride in their government
to highlight corruption in city and state governments
to arouse public sympathy for government officials
to incite Americans into a fiery revolt against their government

Answer 1

to highlight corruption in city and state governments

Steffens wanted to expose "shameful facts" about municipal and state corruption so the public would no longer tolerate it and would demand reform.