commerce had declined to dangerously low levels. This indicates that the country was
dying as a result of factors like the decline of trade and commerce, falling prices,
foreclosed mortgages, and so on. These factors involve long-term trends and many various
components that accumulated over time, indicating that the country was dying over time and
not immediately. This means that the phrase by inches can be replaced by the phrase “not
all at once,” and the correct answer must mean “not all at once.” While the factors in the
country’s decline are detectable, they are not described using specific measurements, so
(A) is incorrect. Choice (B) matches “not all at once” and is therefore the correct answer.
Choice (C) indicates that the country was dying quickly or soon, which means the opposite
of the phrase in question and is thus incorrect. Choice (D) does not have anything to do with
the speed, which means it’s irrelevant.
D The passage states in lines 18–20 that national institutions took their actions because of
their great needs, not due to any criminal activity, so (A) is incorrect. While the national
institutions were negatively affected by the value of commodities, the passage does not state
that those institutions should not be dependent on the value of commodities, but rather that
the value had become poor. Therefore, (B) is incorrect. The passage does not refer to the
economic theories behind the institutions’ decisions, so (C) is incorrect. The passage states
that these institutions reacted to their negative situation by foreclosing mortgages, calling
loans, refusing credit, which negatively affects those who would use mortgages, loans, or
credit. This indicates that the institutions’ struggles caused unfortunate effects for investors,
so (D) is supported by the passage and is the correct answer.
B Choice (A) refers to Roosevelt’s intent to report his activities to the American public, but it
does not refer to his thoughts about the institutions, so (A) is not correct. Choice (B)
describes the circumstances that the institutions operated under and their subsequent actions
toward investors, so (B) supports (D) of question 14 and is the correct answer. Choice (C)
describes positive economic effects but does not describe the workings of institutions, so
(C) is incorrect. Choice (D) describes negative economic possibilities but does not
describe the workings of institutions, so (D) is incorrect.
B The passage is concerned with economic challenges and initiatives, not health initiatives,
so (A) is incorrect. Roosevelt describes the specific challenges faced by the citizens in
lines 20–27 and states that the challenge is not theoretical, so (B) is correct. Roosevelt
states that theories are not involved in this challenge, and he doesn’t mention the work of
economic theorists, so (C) is not supported by the passage. The passage does not state that
there is no solution to the problem, and Roosevelt goes on to state that conditions are
improving in lines 28–29, so the passage does not imply that the situation cannot be
resolved. Therefore, (D) is incorrect.
C In the lines 28–33, Roosevelt discusses the improved economic conditions but states that he
is not going to proclaim that everything is resolved. He does not discuss politicians, so (A)
is incorrect. While he is describing current economic conditions, he does not discuss
theories, so (B) is incorrect. Roosevelt describes the current conditions positively but
states that he will not assure the public that everything is resolved, which suggests that
progress in the future will require additional attention. This indicates that the short-term