Read the excerpt from Chapter 3 of Wheels of Change. Taken together, these floor-length petticoats and the dress that covered them could weigh 25 pounds -even more when the unfortunate woman got caught in a rainstorm. Plus they were unsanitary. During a casual stroll, an unsuspecting fashion plate could pick up cigar ends, cigarette buts, discarded food, tiny insects, and animal droppings as her clothing swept the ground. Which best characterizes the effect of the floor-length petticoats? Short-term effect: They helped women move more easily. Long-term effect: They became popular as athletic wear. Short-term effect: They picked up debris on the street. Long-term effect: They easily became dirty in daily life.

## Step 1<br />The first step in solving this problem is to understand the context of the excerpt. The excerpt discusses the weight and sanitary issues of floor-length petticoats, as well as the potential for picking up debris while walking.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Next, we need to analyze the options given. The options are about the short-term and long-term effects of the floor-length petticoats.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The short-term effect of the petticoats is described in the excerpt as picking up debris on the street. This is because the petticoats are long and sweep the ground, which can pick up various items.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The long-term effect of the petticoats is described in the excerpt as them easily becoming dirty in daily life. This is because the petticoats are heavy and can become more so when wet, and they can pick up various items, making them unsanitary.