Answer:
The correct answer is A. Because of Brazil’s past decision to focus on commodity production instead of education, over 20% of its population was illiterate in 1990.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brazil has census data on illiteracy since the end of the 19th century. Since then, rates have been gradually decreasing: from 65.3% in 1920, to reaching a minimum of 13.6% in 2000. In none of the periods is evident that a steeper decline can be attributed to some of the massive campaigns against illiteracy undertaken throughout the 20th century. All indications point to the fact that the decline was the result of the constant expansion of public education systems and, secondly, gradual progress in the field of adult education. It is also important to note that due to the global population growth, the absolute number of illiterates only began to fall during the 1980s.