Question

language development: vocabulary—“radio and television report to the american people on civil rights,” president john f. kennedy
read the following paragraph from president kennedys radio and television address.
then answer the questions.
... we face, therefore, a moral crisis as a country and a people. it cannot be met by repressive police action. it cannot be left to increased demonstrations in the streets. it cannot be quieted by token moves or talk. it is a time to act in the congress, in your state and local legislative body and, above all, in all of our daily lives. it is not enough to pin the blame on others, to say this is a problem of one section of the country or another, or deplore the facts that we face.

using context clues, what can you most logically conclude is the meaning of the underlined word repressive in the second sentence of the paragraph?
a. applying justice or the law
b. using argument or reason
c. using force or the threat of force
d. permitting discussion or debate

Explanation:

The paragraph notes that repressive police action fails to stop street demonstrations, and token talk/gestures also don't work. "Repressive" relates to harsh, forceful measures to suppress action, which matches using force or threats of force. The other options don't fit: applying justice (A) is the opposite, argument/reason (B) is not police action here, and permitting debate (D) contradicts the idea of suppressing protests.

Answer:

C. using force or the threat of force