SAT English Practice Question

The author’s main argument is that the decline of the American middle class is a result of the increasing complexity of the modern economy. The author supports this argument by discussing a number of factors that have contributed to the decline of the middle class, such as the rise of automation, the globalization of the economy, and the decline of labor unions. The author also argues that the decline of the middle class has had a number of negative consequences, such as the erosion of social mobility and the increasing inequality between the rich and the poor. What is the most likely reason why the writer uses the word "erosion"?

1. A.create a sense of urgency and alarm about the decline of the middle class.
2. B.describe the gradual and irreversible nature of the decline of the middle class.
3. C.suggest that the decline of the middle class is a natural and inevitable process.
4. D.emphasize the importance of the author’s argument about the decline of the middle class.