Question

read the anecdote that begins “equal justice under law”: thurgood marshall. so, one day, the principal sent him to the basement with a copy of the united states constitution and stern orders not to come back up till he had memorized a passage. “before i left that school,” marshall said many years later, “i knew the whole thing by heart.” which statement best describes why the author begins with this anecdote? it shows that marshall was always fascinated by the law. it shows that marshall didnt like elementary school. it shows that marshall’s school in baltimore was segregated. it shows that marshall would go on to college to study law.

Explanation:

The anecdote focuses on Marshall being tasked with memorizing the U.S. Constitution as a student, and his later comment that he knew the whole document by heart before leaving school. This directly highlights an early, intense engagement with legal foundational text, pointing to his lifelong interest in law. The other options are unsupported: there is no mention of dislike for school, segregation at the school, or explicit setup for college law study.

Answer:

It shows that Marshall was always fascinated by the law.