Question

the ders were arrested in charlotte, north carolina, for going against segregationist rules.... in rock hill, south carolina, angry travelers attacked african - american freedom rider john lewis (who later became a u.s. congressman).... five days later, in anniston, alabama, one of the buses was bombed. the other bus continued to birmingham, where it was greeted by angry people. in these cities, members of the ku klux klan entered the buses. they attacked the freedom riders. many of the volunteers were harmed and had to be taken to the hospital. the police did little to stop what was going on.
the author uses this paragraph mostly to help the reader ______.
a. understand when john lewis became a congressman
b. understand why the supreme court struck down certain laws
c. understand why travelers in rock hill, south carolina, were angry
d. understand what the journey was like for the freedom riders

Explanation:

• Option A: The paragraph mentions John Lewis became a congressman but that's not the main focus; it's just additional info about him. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: The paragraph has no mention of the Supreme Court or laws being struck down. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: The paragraph doesn't explain why travelers in Rock Hill were angry; it just states they attacked John Lewis. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: The paragraph describes the events during the Freedom Riders' journey (arrests, attacks, bombings, police inaction), which helps readers understand what their journey was like. So D is correct.

Answer:

D. Understand what the journey was like for the Freedom Riders