What did Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper have in common? (5 points) Both used fiction to tell stories about American life
Both used music to describe American settlement of the West
Both used art to illustrate the beauty of the American landscape
Both used real historical events to explain American government

d. i assume the underlined word is "role." reformat if it isn't.

explanation:

role is closest to part because when replacing words, "playing a vital decision," "playing a vital activity," and "playing a vital dollar" don't make logical sense. the only meaningful choice is "playing a vital part."

this fits one of merriam-webster's definitions of role: "a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process."