Question

read the excerpt from up from slavery by booker t. washington.
i believe that in time, through the operation of intelligence and friendly race relations, all cheating at the ballot - box in the south will cease. it will become apparent that the white man who begins by cheating a negro out of his ballot soon learns to cheat a white man out of his, and that the man who does this ends his career of dishonesty by the theft of property or by some equally serious crime. in my opinion, the time will come when the south will encourage all of its citizens to vote. it will see that it pays better, from every standpoint, to have healthy, vigorous life than to have that political stagnation which always results when one - half of the population has no share and no interest in the government.
what is the strongest reasoning the author uses to support his claim?
a time will come when voting will be an honest activity.
people who try to stop others from voting become burglars.
the south will eventually want people of every race to be able to vote equally.
the south will understand that it is better to have all citizens involved in government.

Explanation:

To determine the strongest reasoning, we analyze each option:

• Option A only states a future outcome of honest voting, not the reasoning for why the South will encourage voting.
• Option B focuses on the negative consequences of vote - cheating for the cheaters, not on why the South should encourage all to vote.
• Option C says the South will want equal voting for all races, but it doesn't explain the benefit of having all citizens vote.
• Option D explains that involving all citizens in government (encouraging all to vote) is better from every standpoint, as it avoids political stagnation and promotes a healthy, vigorous life. This gives a practical, self - interested reason for the South to encourage all citizens to vote, which is a strong supporting reasoning for the author's claim.

Answer:

D. The South will understand that it is better to have all citizens involved in government.