Question 11 • CMS 2026-2027 English III CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. What is the author’s purpose for including these sentences?
Answer
A
to establish the impressive credentials of his staff
B
to describe the productivity of his daily routine
C
to explain the nature of his profession
D
to emphasize the significance of his critics’ letter
Explanation
King says he cannot respond to every criticism because doing so would take time away from constructive work. He makes an exception for these critics because he believes they are well-intentioned and sincere, showing that he considers their letter significant enough to answer. The passage is not mainly about his profession, staff, or daily productivity.
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