Question

“Benjamin Franklin was born in Milk Street, Boston, on January 6, 1706. His father, Josiah Franklin, was a tallow chandler [candle maker] who married twice, and of his seventeen children Benjamin was the youngest son. His schooling ended at ten, and at twelve he was bound apprentice to his brother James, a printer, who published the ‘New England Courant.’ To this journal he became a contributor, and later was for a time its nominal editor. But the brothers quarreled, and Benjamin ran away, going first to New York, and thence to Philadelphia, where he arrived in October, 1723.”
QUESTION:
Which of the following is a key detail about Franklin’s employment in this excerpt?
ANSWER:
A) Benjamin Franklin was one of seventeen children
B) Benjamin Franklin’s father was a tallow-maker.
C) Benjamin Franklin finished his schooling by age 10.
D) Benjamin Franklin worked at the “New England Courant.”←←←←←

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is D. Benjamin Franklin worked at the "New England Courant"

Explanation:

Answer A is a key detail about Franklin's family. Answer B is a key detail about his father, not about him, and Answer C is a key detail about Franklin's education and first years at school, not about employment.

That newspaper, the "New England Courant", was the scenario through which Benjamin Franklin began to write his first journalistic writings, which were full of criticism towards the work of the political authorities of the time.  When he was 17 years old, he left his brother's press and traveled to the United States. In his plans he was going directly to New York, but instead he stopped first in Philadelphia.  At this time Franklin worked in a local printing and was a good worker, which made him be recognized in the working environment of the printing presses. A year later, in 1725, he traveled to London and continued working in the printing industry.  

In October 1726 he returned to Philadelphia and, after several work experiences and overcoming other health problems, he founded his own printing press with Hugh Meredith, who was his partner in this company. With him he published the "Pennsylvania Gazette", a newspaper that he bought in 1729 and published until the year of 1748.