Question

an african american family history like no other by neely tucker when the library of congress opens its new treasures gallery next year, displaying some of the most striking papers and artifacts that span some 4,000 years, one of them will certainly stand out: the blackwell’s kinfolk family tree. it’s a dizzying, almost overwhelming piece of folk art that depicts the genealogical history of an african american family from virginia. it’s 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, contains more than 1,900 names spread out on curving trunks, branches, and leaves and details family connections from 1789 to the 1970s. its most famous member? author aske jr., the tennis great. “the first time i saw it, my chin nearly dropped to the floor,” says ahmed johnson, the reference librarian in the history and genealogy section who worked with the family to donate the canvas. “and the fact that it’s an african american family that can trace its way back to the first ancestor? slavery usually made that impossible.” the research, and the strikingly original canvas, comes from decades of work by the late thelma s. downwell, a d.c. school teacher and genealogist who wrote several books on the field. she got started early, being entranced by all the people she did not know at a family reunion. “i met so many people i didn’t know,” she told a family newsletter in 1982. “i told my mother then that i had to know who these people were.” ... this question asks about what you read in the text “an african american family history like no other” and the excerpt from “family health, hidden in dna”. how do the purposes of “an african american family” and “family health, hidden in dna” differ? options: 1. “an african american family” focuses on the historical significance of a family tree, while “family health, hidden in dna” explores genetic discoveries and their impacts on families. 2. “an african american family” examines the challenges of tracing ancestry, while “family health, hidden in dna” argues that family history is important for dna testing. 3. “an african american family” emphasizes the importance of knowing your family history, while “family health, hidden in dna” discusses the consequences of ignoring family medical records. 4. “an african american family” highlights the benefits of having a family legacy, while “family health, hidden in dna” explains why knowing family history is more helpful than genetic testing.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The text "An African American Family" focuses on the historical significance of a family tree (from the Library of Congress exhibit and family history details), while "Family Health, Hidden in DNA" explores genetic discoveries (like DNA - related health insights). This matches the description.
• Option 2: The first text is about family history, not challenging ancestry tracing, and the second is about genetics, not arguing family history's importance for DNA testing. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The first text doesn't emphasize knowing family history for its importance, and the second isn't about ignoring family medical records. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The first text is about family history (not legacy benefits), and the second is about genetics (not why family history is more helpful than genetic testing). Eliminate.

Answer:

A. "An African American Family" focuses on the historical significance of a family tree, while "Family Health, Hidden in DNA" explores genetic discoveries and their impacts on families.