The correct answer is option B. Old, sickly people and young laborers are useless to the nation because they cannot be productive citizens.
Explanation:
In this excerpt we can see how the author addresses the issue of how old and sick people cannot get a job and not only that, they starve and die of cold.
The author also ironically remarks how young workers "are now in almost as hopeful a condition." and talks about how they can't get a job either.
Exactly the use of this irony is what is considered as "satirical tone".
Given this information we can say that the correct answer is option B.
