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, how did the jailing of debtors hurt their chances of repaying their debts?
(1 point)
Responses

They were unable to work.

They spent their money on food.

They could not repay debts on time.

They often did not survive prison conditions.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

They were unable to work.

This is supported by the fact that the passage states that while behind bars, debtors had no way to earn money to pay back their debts.