In addition to making leather gloves, John Shakespeare held an important position in Stratford: he was the bailiff, the town official in charge of inspecting and approving visitors to the village. He also gave permission for different activities, heard complaints from the villagers; and set the price for corn, the staple food for the people. John was respected and well liked, he did, however, have a secret for a long time, John had kept an illegal side business buying and selling wool, an activity called brogging. As a glover, John was permitted to buy and sell only leather, he was not an authorized wool dealer. Under other circumstances, John probably would have been all right during this difficult time. He was a wealthy man with property from Stratford through the surrounding Forest of Arden. Unfortunately, about the same time as the recession began, the authorities announced a crackdown on wool broggers, the illegal wool dealers. The country was in the midst of a national wool shortage, and Queen Elizabeth's Privy Council determined the broggers contributed to the problem. John had already been warned twice to end his illegal side business, and in early 1580, the Privy Council ordered all known wool broggers to post a 100-pound bond to ensure that they would stop their illegal trading.

Question

Read these two excerpts. Why is John Shakespeare's participation in brogging significant?
A It impacted William's ability to carry on the family business.
B It ruined his reputation with members of his town.
C It prevented him from establishing a good relationship with the Queen of England.
D It negatively affected the family when England's economy suffered.

Answer 1

John Shakespeare's participation in brogging is significant primarily because it negatively affected the family when England's economy suffered. Therefore, the correct answer is:

D It negatively affected the family when England's economy suffered.

This is because the crackdown on illegal wool dealing, particularly during a national wool shortage, would have serious repercussions for his financial stability and reputation, impacting his family as well.