One of the most important causes of the American Revolution was what came to be called salutary neglect. The word salutary means “beneficial or helpful.” During the early 1700s, the British government started to allow the American colonies to ignore its trade rules. This was because it had found that allowing the colonies to trade illegally with enemy countries made the colonies wealthier. Having more money, the colonies therefore bought more British goods. The way British leaders neglected to enforce the rules was salutary, or beneficial.

Question

The policy of salutary neglect ended up backfiring on the British later in the 1700s, however. The French and Indian War left the British government deeply in debt, and it tried to raise money to pay off the debt by creating new taxes for the colonies. In contrast, the colonies were used to salutary neglect, and did not take the taxes seriously. When the British tried to enforce tax payments, it led to hostile relations that contributed to the decision of colonists to start a revolution.

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

How does the transition word therefore in the first paragraph highlight a connection that helps explain why colonies were able to buy more goods?

(1 point)
Responses

The transition word therefore signals a connection that helps explain why colonies had more money.
The transition word therefore signals a connection that helps explain why colonies had more money.

The transition word therefore signals a distinction between the colonies’ money and Britain’s goods.
The transition word therefore signals a distinction between the colonies’ money and Britain’s goods.

The transition word therefore signals a distinction between the goods the colonies bought from foreign countries and the goods the colonies bought from the British.
The transition word therefore signals a distinction between the goods the colonies bought from foreign countries and the goods the colonies bought from the British.

The transition word therefore signals a connection that helps explain why colonies were able to buy more British goods.
The transition word therefore signals a connection that helps explain why colonies were able to buy more British goods.
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Answer 1

The correct response is:

The transition word therefore signals a connection that helps explain why colonies were able to buy more British goods.

This choice accurately reflects how the increase in the colonies' wealth, due to the beneficial trade practices of salutary neglect, directly resulted in their ability to purchase more goods from Britain.