Because they were anxious to balance Wyoming's population of 8000 men and 2000 women, the state's lawmakers extended voting rights to women in Wyoming in 1869.

Which of the following can serve as an assumption on which the lawmakers' decision was directly based?

The lawmakers want to bring "balance" because look at the population numbers. Women population is far lower than that of men. Therefore, the lawmakers are hoping that enfranchisement of women would bring population numbers up.

(A) Women would vote in ways that would make Wyoming a better place to live.

What would happen to Wyoming state after women are allowed to vote is not an assumption. It is more a consequence of the decision.

(B) Women were superior to men in the ability to make political decisions.

There is no comparison between men and women despite the difference in population numbers.

(C) Women would want to live in a place where they could vote.

This is an assumption because lawmakers hope that women population will increase if they are allowed to vote.

(D) Women who were willing to endure frontier conditions deserved the right to vote.

Based on the information given in the passage, this option can not be assumed. All we are given is the population figures.

(E) Women who voted would be better citizens than those who did not.

The lawmakers want to bring balance in the population numbers. We do not have enough information in the passage to assume this answer choice.

Answer is C.