Question

read the paragraph, then choose the word that best completes the sentence.
african americans reacted with joy when the fifteenth amendment was ratified. for the first time, african - american men across the country were legally permitted to vote. it was a significant step in the journey toward racial equality. the amendment was ratified in 1870 as the united states struggled to recover from the civil war. the war had hampered unity, ruined the economy, and killed or injured well over one million people. on march 31, 1870, thomas mundy cast his ballot for school board in perth amboy, new jersey, becoming the first african american to vote.
the law ______ their rights.
a reinforced
b diminished
c affirmed
d bypassed

Explanation:

The Fifteenth Amendment legally permitted African - American men to vote. "Affirmed" means to state or assert positively, which fits the context of the law confirming (or asserting) their right to vote. "Reinforced" implies strengthening something that already existed (but before the amendment, they didn't have the legal right to vote in general). "Diminished" means to make smaller or less, which is the opposite of what the amendment did. "Bypassed" means to go around, which also doesn't make sense in the context of the law and the right to vote.

Answer:

C. affirmed