Question

What historical information must the reader understand to identify the central idea of the passage

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. The struggle to end racial segregation

Explanation:

The passage explains the experience of Melba Pattillo, an African-American girl, as she speaks to white reporters to ratify her right to go to school "We have a right to go to that school, and I'm certain our governor... will decide to do what is just". This shows the main idea of the passage is the struggle of African-Americans for going to school without being attacked or judged.

Additionally, to understand this idea, the readers need to know about the struggle of African-Americans to end racial segregation. Indeed, when  Melba was a teenager (1950s), racial segregation was still a reality in many cities in the South, including Little Rock, Arkansas, where she lived. Due to this, when she and other African-American students requested to be transferred to a "white-school" they were attacked as most schools and white people resisted integration. Thus, the information the reader needs to understand to identify the central idea is "The struggle to end racial segregation".