Answer:
The answer is option C.
Taney's claim in the passage that African American people were not part of the group considered citizens by the Constitution
Explanation: In the passage Justice Taney claimed that the meaning of citizen according to the constitution does not consider the African American people as a part of citizens. Because even after emancipation there are race inferior activities. The African American people are not enjoying the rights according to the constitution. Still they are the subject to the authority.
A participle has the form of verb + -ing. So the only such word here is 'smiling' that is the participle in this sentence. It modifies 'woman', that is, it refers to how the woman opened the door - smiling pleasantly.
Explanation:
by reading the questions then go through the passage underlinining the answer
