Question

five score years ago, a great american, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the emancipation proclamation. this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of negro slaves who had been seated in the flames of withering injustice. it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. but one hundred years later, the negro still is not free. one hundred years later, the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. one hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. one hundred years later, the negro is still languished in the corners of american society and finds himself in exile in his own land. so we have come here today to dramatize an shameful condition. in a sense weve come to our nations capital to cash a check. when the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the constitution and the declaration of independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every american was to fall heir. which words or phrases help clue the reader into the meaning of the word seared? a the flames b symbolic shadow c bizarre or strange d released or relinquished e long night of captivity

Explanation:

To determine the word related to "seared", we analyze context. "Seared" implies pain or harm. "Withering injustice" (option D) describes unjust treatment that causes harm, aligning with the idea of being seared (marked by pain/injustice). Other options like "the flames" (A) is literal fire, "symbolic shadow" (B) is metaphorical but not about harm, "joyous daybreak" (C) is positive, and "long night of captivity" (E) is about captivity not direct harm. So D fits.

Answer:

D. withering injustice