I would say:
<span>C.
present participle
I could be wrong though</span>
The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions.
The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The author use paragraphs 30-31 to refine their ideas in the following way.
When Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, wrote <em>"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress..." </em>he wants to conclude that American colonists have tried many ways to get a proper answer from the British crown and the only answer they had received had been a repeated injury, which means, the King still considered aggressions to the colonists.
When Jefferson wrote <em>"...That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved..." </em> he is making the strong conclusive statement that from now on, the colonies are declaring independence from the English crown so the colonies are free and independent states, that have the power and rights to do the things they freely consider correct.
