Question

which sentence from the speech most clearly states the author’s claim, or position?
“citizens must participate—by voting, by staying informed, and by holding leaders accountable.” (paragraph 2)
“democracy is not something we inherit without effort.” (paragraph 1)
“some may claim that one voice does not matter.” (paragraph 3)
“we live in a time when information is readily available.” (paragraph 5)

Explanation:

To determine the author's claim/position, we analyze each option:

• The first option ("Citizens must participate—by voting, by staying informed, and by holding leaders accountable.") presents a clear call to action and a stance on what citizens should do, which is a direct statement of the author's position regarding civic duty in a democratic context.
• The second option ("Democracy is not something we inherit without effort.") is more of a statement about the nature of democracy rather than a specific position on action.
• The third option ("Some may claim that one voice does not matter.") is presenting a counter - argument, not the author's own claim.
• The fourth option ("We live in a time when information is readily available.") is a statement of fact about the current time, not a claim or position.

So the first option most clearly states the author's position as it advocates for citizen participation.

Answer:

A. "Citizens must participate—by voting, by staying informed, and by holding leaders accountable." (paragraph 2)