The following is from a 19th-century novel. Lord Ashby spoke at length over dinner about his improvements to the estate — the new drains, the rebuilt cottages, the rotation of crops, the wages raised by twopence on his initiative. His tenants, when interviewed privately by the visiting clergyman, agreed that the drains were indeed new, the cottages indeed rebuilt, the wages indeed raised. They added, without prompting, that they had paid for the improvements through rents that had risen by sixpence in the same period.
Which conclusion most logically follows from the passage?
- A
The visiting clergyman fabricated the tenants' statements
- Bcheck_circle
Lord Ashby's account of his generosity omits information that complicates its meaning
- C
The rents on Lord Ashby's estate were unchanged during the period
- D
Lord Ashby's tenants disagree that any improvements occurred
Explanation
Tenants confirming improvements but noting larger rent increases supports B. A and C contradict the tenants' statements; D introduces fabrication unsupported by text.