Final answer:
The primary claim of the passage is that the American Dream has always been based on opportunity, but the reality has always been more complex than suggested by the myth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary claim of the passage is that the American Dream has always been based on opportunity, but the reality has always been more complex than suggested by the myth. While the worldwide recession in 2008 had a negative impact on the American Dream, there are signs of recovery and sectors of the economy are hiring.