Question

15 POINTS HELP -It was a night to remember. Marian Anderson was one my favorite singers. Her rendition of the song “Were You There” ran through my head as we walked toward the Metropolitan Opera House. Of course, I listened to the radio when she sang at the Lincoln Memorial in ’39, and hearing her sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” brought a tear to my eye. I couldn’t imagine what emotions Marian’s voice would stir in me during a live performance. It was January 7, 1955, and my husband and I were going to see the first African American sing at the Metropolitan Opera.

5When lights came up after the performance, everything was a blur of velvet and pearls as the applause echoed throughout the hall. During our exit, we passed by the women who had been questioning Marian’s abilities before the performance. “She was simply amazing,” stated one. “She’s still got it after all these years!” exclaimed the other. The power of Marian’s astonishing voice had captured their hearts as well as mine.

Which BEST describes the cultural significance of this passage?
A) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the hardships faced by college music majors who want to perform opera.
B) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the rise in popularity of live opera performances for national and international audiences.
Eliminate
C) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the struggles and opportunities for female musicians performing at the Metropolitan Opera House.
D) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the challenges and opportunities for African Americans to perform for national and international audiences.

Answer 1

Answer: D) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the challenges and opportunities for African Americans to perform for national and international audiences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The correct answer is D) This passage provides a partial chronicle of the challenges and opportunities for African Americans to perform for national and international audiences.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this excerpt we are provided with the narrator's account on the first time an African American singer would perform at the Metropolitan Opera. This event took place in 1955, when segregation policies still were around and it was extremely difficult for African American artists to perform in front of broader national or international audiences. This is further highlighted by the fact that the narrator was thrilled when Maria Anderson sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee in this context of segregation, and by the applauses Anderson received after the show, even from those that were questioning her abilities because of her race.