Question

read the excerpt from black boy.

my mother fell ill and the problem of food became an acute, daily agony. hunger was with us always. sometimes the neighbors would feed us or a dollar bill would come in the mail from my grandmother. it was winter and i would buy a dimes worth of coal each morning from the corner coalyard and lug it home in paper bags. for a time i remained out of school to wait upon my mother, then granny came to visit us and i returned to school.

through his personal experience, which social issue is wright emphasizing?

the effects of long distances on families
the benefits of certain types of energy
the benefits of education for children
the effects of poverty on families

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt for central themes

Using the Richard Wright Analysis and Autobiographical Perspective knowledge points, we examine the text's focus:

• "the problem of food became an acute, daily agony"
• "Hunger was with us always"
• "Sometimes the neighbors would feed us or a dollar bill would come in the mail"
• "buy a dime's worth of coal each morning"

These details directly illustrate severe financial hardship and lack of basic necessities.

Evaluate the answer choices

• the effects of long distances on families: Incorrect. Although grandmother/Granny is mentioned, distance is not the focus of their struggle.
• the benefits of certain types of energy: Incorrect. Buying coal is mentioned as a chore of necessity, not to highlight energy benefits.
• the benefits of education for children: Incorrect. Education is mentioned as something the narrator had to miss to care for his mother, not as a highlighted benefit.
• the effects of poverty on families: Correct. The constant hunger, reliance on neighbors, and buying tiny amounts of coal directly emphasize the devastating impact of poverty.

Answer:

• O the effects of long distances on families
• O the benefits of certain types of energy
• O the benefits of education for children
• O the effects of poverty on families (Correct answer)