Question

which inference is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 3)? but one hundred years later, the negro still is not free. one hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later, the negro is still languished in the corners of american society and finds himself an exile in his own land. and so weve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. a. despite centuries of struggle, african americans still suffer from discrimination in the 21st century. b. the united states is a vast ocean of material prosperity. c. this speech is a dramatization of the african american situation. d. the emancipation proclamation did not greatly improve the lives of all african americans.

Explanation:

• Option A: The passage talks about "one hundred years later" (after some event, likely Emancipation) and focuses on the lack of freedom, segregation, discrimination, and poverty of Negroes. But the passage doesn't specify the 21st century, so this is not directly supported.
• Option B: The passage says the Negro lives on a "lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity" - this is a metaphor for the Negro's situation relative to the rest of society, not a statement that the US as a whole is a vast ocean of material prosperity. So this misinterprets the metaphor.
• Option C: The passage says "we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition" - this is about the purpose of their gathering, not that the speech itself is a dramatization of the situation. The speech is explaining the situation to dramatize it, but the option's wording is off.
• Option D: The passage implies that even after 100 years (likely after Emancipation Proclamation), the Negro is still not free, facing segregation, discrimination, etc. So it supports that the Emancipation Proclamation did not greatly improve all African Americans' lives.

Answer:

D. The Emancipation Proclamation did not greatly improve the lives of all African Americans.