Many english writers and thinkers in the eighteenth century felt that the English language should be standardized. Which Social
changes was most closely related to the perceived need for standardization? A. Growth of the urban population
B. Religious reform
C. Increased life expectancy
D. Increased literacy
E. Relaxation of censorship laws
I believe the answer would be D. Increased Literacy. The more literate people became, the more they wanted a... standard... if you will... language that everyone would understand.
To my mind, the correct answer is (A). According to this passage, the reader has only access to Nicki´s feelings and emotions. It is not stated the men´s motivation for chasing Nicki.