Question

read the excerpt from notes from a native son.
but this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all one’s strength. this fight begins, however, in the heart, and it now had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair.
which best explains the excerpt’s role in the problem - and - solution structure of the passage?
the excerpt sets up the overarching problem addressed by the passage.
the excerpt presents the solution to a minor problem in the passage.
the excerpt sets up a secondary problem to be addressed by the passage.
the excerpt presents the solution to the overarching problem in the passage.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the problem - and - solution structure: The overarching problem in the passage (from the broader context of "Notes from a Native Son") relates to dealing with injustice and the internal struggle of how to respond to it (acceptance vs. fighting it).
2. Analyze the excerpt: The excerpt presents the solution to this overarching problem. It says that one must not be complacent about injustice (so the problem is injustice in life), and the solution is to fight injustice with all one's strength while keeping one's heart free of hatred and despair.
3. Evaluate the options:

• Option 1: The excerpt does not set up the overarching problem (the problem of injustice is likely set up earlier), so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: It is not a minor problem's solution; it addresses the main (overarching) problem of how to deal with injustice, so this is incorrect.
• Option 3: It is not a secondary problem; it's about the main problem of responding to injustice, so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: The excerpt presents the solution (fighting injustice with strength and keeping heart free of hatred/despair) to the overarching problem (injustice in life and how to respond to it).

Answer:

The excerpt presents the solution to the overarching problem in the passage.