PSAT Reading Question 120: Answer and Explanation

Question: 120

Which choice most clearly paraphrases a claim made by King in paragraph 4?

• A. A failure to negotiate in the South has provoked secret action by civil rights activists.
• B. A focus on dialogue blinds reformers to the necessity for direct action to promote change.
• C. Direct action is necessary to motivate people to talk about prejudice and racism.
• D. Nonviolent protest encourages a sense of brotherhood and understanding among citizens.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

Difficulty: Hard

Category: Detail

Getting to the Answer: Consider the overall thrust of King's argument in this paragraph. Choose the answer that encapsulates this idea. In paragraph 4, King responds to charges that activists should focus on negotiation, not direct action. He argues that direct action is needed to spur negotiations. King reasons that nonviolent protests create the tension between forces in society needed to bring people to the table to discuss the relevant issues of prejudice and racism. His claim in the paragraph is that direct action is needed to spur negotiation, making choice (C) correct.