Cloward and Ohlin attempt to extend Merton's central idea that the lower classes are denied legitimate opportunity by introducing the concept of

A) status frustration.
B) the means-goal gap.
C) differential illegitimate opportunity.
D) differential legitimate opportunity.

Cloward and Ohlin introduce the concept of differential illegitimate opportunity, which refers to the idea that different subcultures within the lower classes have access to different types of criminal opportunities. These opportunities vary depending on the location, the structure of the criminal underworld, and the availability of criminal networks. This theory takes into account that not all lower-class individuals have equal access to criminal activities and that some subcultures may be better equipped than others to commit and profit from criminal behavior.