Question

"The clergy and the nobles together constituted 3% of the French population. They owned about 60% of the land. The population of the middle class, on the other hand, comprised 97% of the total population. However, they owned just 40% of the land."

What inferences can be drawn from this data?

• A. The clergy and nobles deserved the divine right to own majority of the lands.
• B. The clergy and nobles worked hard to own their lands.
• C. Land distribution was highly disproportionate between the three classes.
• D. The clergy and nobles together exploited the majority 97% percent people who are the middle class, peasants and workers.

Answer 1

Answer: (C), (D)

The correct options are
C Land distribution was highly disproportionate between the three classes.
D The clergy and nobles together exploited the majority 97% percent people who are the middle class, peasants and workers.

The clergy and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by
birth. The small population of the first two estates owned the majority of lands. They exploited the peasants by extracting the feudal dues. The peasants were forced to do free labour.