Final answer:
The post-war period in the United States is characterized by rapid economic growth and a significant reduction in poverty, with the poverty rate falling dramatically through the 1960s and fluctuating in the following decades but generally trending downward.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the post-war period in the United States, the correct answer that best describes poverty is a. Rapid economic growth and reduced poverty. After World War II, the U.S. experienced a period of substantial economic expansion. Figure 15.2 reveals that the poverty rate fell dramatically through the 1960s, indicating a significant reduction in poverty during this post-war era. Although poverty rates increased during the early 1980s and early 1990s, there was a decline in the mid-1990s through mid-2000s, with levels fluctuating but generally maintaining a downward trend. For example, between 2010 and 2019, the poverty rate had declined to the lowest rate seen in decades, 10.5%, before rising again in 2020 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.