Question

read this excerpt. these facts create a mood that can best be described as a calm. b wistful. c hesitant. d grim. in many places, successful black business owners were run out of town by angry whites, simply because the black businesses were hurting the businesses of the white owners. sometimes, blacks were beaten or killed by angry mobs. the ku klux klan, composed of racist whites, terrorized black americans, often preventing them from voting or other activities. blacks who were convicted of small crimes were often given unusually long prison sentences. they could be chained together and loaned to companies that used them for free labor these \chain gangs\ often spent all day working in the hot sun for no money

Explanation:

The excerpt describes negative events like black business owners being run out of town, Blacks being beaten/killed, Ku Klux Klan terrorizing, and harsh treatment of Black prisoners. "Grim" means gloomy or dreadful, which fits the serious and harsh tone. "Calm" is wrong as events are violent. "Wistful" is longing, not matching. "Hesitant" is indecision, not here.

Answer:

D. grim