Tracing the Central Idea in "A Quilt of a Country"
Question 7 • MO-English Language Arts 9 B-CR
Read the excerpt from "A Quilt of a Country."The reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. Many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories not of tolerance, but of bigotry. Slavery and sweatshops, the burning of crosses and the ostracism of the other. Children learn in social-studies class and in the news of the lynching of blacks, the denial of rights to women, the murders of gay men. It is difficult to know ho
Answer
D
Due to the many cultures represented in our nation, our history is spoiled by racist acts.
T
The high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people.
C
Children in American schools are only learning about the negative parts of American history—and none of the positive.
A
Among all of the acts of hatred and racism, there is good in our population made of immigrants.
Explanation
The excerpt contrasts America’s diversity with a long record of bigotry and violence, including slavery, lynching, and the denial of rights. These examples make it hard to believe that such a divided country can form a united people, which is the idea expressed in choice B. Choice C is too absolute: the passage says children learn about these injustices, not that they learn only negative history.
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