Questions: Why does Tarbell feel she has to be a pioneer and attend Allegheny?

The answer is C: It will affirm that women indeed wanted to go to college.

Explanation for each option:

A. It will show that women need to venture far away to attend college.

• This option is incorrect because Tarbell's decision to attend Allegheny is influenced by its proximity to her home and its connection to her church, not the need to venture far away.

B. It will demonstrate she could be swayed by the reason of others.

• This option is incorrect because while Tarbell is influenced by Dr. Lucius Bugbee's arguments, her decision is ultimately based on a sense of responsibility and the desire to support women's education, not merely being swayed by others.

C. It will affirm that women indeed wanted to go to college.

• This is the correct answer. Tarbell feels a responsibility to support colleges that have opened their doors to women to prove that women want and deserve a college education. She believes that by attending Allegheny, she can help demonstrate that women are serious about their education.

D. It will prove that women are intellectually more capable than men.

• This option is incorrect because Tarbell's goal is not to prove that women are more capable than men, but rather to show that women are equally capable and deserving of educational opportunities.