Historian Dr. Marcus Bell contends that the Industrial Revolution's success in Britain was primarily due to its abundant coal deposits rather than its cultural values or economic policies. Without cheap, accessible energy, he argues, industrialization would not have accelerated.
Which evidence would most strengthen Bell's argument about coal's importance?
British inventors filed more patents than inventors in other countries
British workers worked longer hours than workers in agricultural economies
Countries with similar political systems but lacking coal reserves industrialized much later than Britain
The pound sterling was a stable currency throughout the 18th century
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. This creates a natural comparison: same politics, different coal access, different outcomes.
- Context clues: Bell says coal, not culture/policy, was the key factor.
- Evidence evaluation: Controlling for politics while coal varies isolates coal's effect.
- Verify: If culture/policy mattered most, similar countries should industrialize similarly.
💡 Strategy: Natural experiments that control confounding variables provide strong evidence.
Choice A is incorrect because patents could reflect innovation culture, not energy access. Choice B is incorrect because work hours don't explain why industry started where it did. Choice D is incorrect because currency stability is an economic factor, which Bell disputes as primary.