Development of the Middle Class Practice Test

A 110-word secondary-source excerpt claims that between 1865 and 1898 the U.S. middle class grew partly because mass immigration and industrial expansion created huge markets for services—retail, finance, education, and real estate—especially in cities. The author argues that while many middle-class Americans benefited from urban growth, they also promoted Americanization programs that pressured immigrants to adopt English and “respectable” norms. Which outcome best reflects a consequence of the middle-class “Americanization” efforts described?

Secondary source excerpt (1865–1898): The Gilded Age middle class often distinguished itself through “proper” leisure. Rather than saloons or street gambling, reformers promoted parks, museums, and organized sports as wholesome recreation. City beautification projects and the creation of public libraries reflected a belief that environment shaped behavior. These initiatives also served to regulate public space, sometimes marginalizing working-class and immigrant forms of entertainment.

Which city development best matches the leisure ideals described?