Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, in a nice home on St. Anne’s Street. The year was 1473, and life in Europe was hard for m
ost people. Famine and harsh winters were normal, and many children and peasants went hungry. Because of his father’s wealth as a copper merchant, Copernicus was sheltered from these hardships. Sadly, his father died when Copernicus was a boy, and soon after, he went to live in the palace of his uncle, the Archbishop of Warmia. His uncle took Copernicus under protection and saw to his education and career. What does the first paragraph suggest about life at the time of Copernicus' birth?
A. Education was widely available despite hardships.
B. People did not hold education in high regard.
C. Most people were educated at home.
D. Education was available only to the wealthy.
The article gives evidence that the times were hard when Copernicus was growing up, meaning many of the lower classes did not have widespread access to education. Copernicus was only able to gain an education because his family had a large amount of wealth.
