Final answer:
The correct answer is option c. As of the U.S. Census from 2008, 16.5 percent of respondents reported being of Hispanic/Latino descent, and by 2010, this group constituted 16.3 percent of the population, making it the largest ethnic minority group in the United States among the options provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Census from 2008 indicates that 16.5 percent of respondents reported being of Hispanic/Latino descent, which represents the largest group in the country based on the choices provided. According to the U.S. Census data, the ethnic minority groups in the United States included 16.3 percent Hispanic, 12.6 percent African American, 5 percent Asian and Pacific Islander, and 1 percent Native American as of the 2010 census. It is also noted that within the Hispanic group, about 75 percent of respondents identified as being of Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban origin.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that the category 'Hispanic or Latino' is considered an ethnicity rather than a race, as per U.S. Census classification. This demographic has shown significant growth and diversity, with a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. The growth rate of the Hispanic/Latino population has been such that by the 2019 estimates, they constituted approximately 18.5 percent of the total U.S. population.