Question

What evidence does the author of "Puerto Rico" provide in paragraph two for why Puerto Rico deserves to become the 51st state?

A. "In particular, the case of Hawaii provides a glaring contrast to that of Puerto Rico."
B. "Hawaii became a territory of the United States at roughly the same time as Puerto Rico, yet lies some 1,000 miles more distant from American shores."
C. "Alaska joined the union from the far reaches of the Arctic, and Hawaii became a state despite being separated from the mainland by a large swath of the Pacific Ocean."
D. "The states of Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona were added as U.S. territory spread through the continental interior."

Answer 1

The author argues for Puerto Rico's statehood by comparing it to Hawaii and Alaska, which became states despite their distance from the U.S. mainland and their initial statuses as territories.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author of "Puerto Rico" provides evidence in paragraph two for why Puerto Rico deserves to become the 51st state by showing how it contrasts with other U.S. territories that were given statehood. The evidence presented indicates that Puerto Rico's situation is similar to that of Hawaii and Alaska, territories that also were once far removed from the continental United States but ultimately were granted statehood. The passage suggests that, like these states, Puerto Rico has a longstanding relationship with the U.S., with its people having been granted American citizenship and having developed a civil government under the American flag. This highlights the argument for Puerto Rico's statehood based on historical precedents established by other non-contiguous territories.

Answer 2

Might be c. As it makes the most sense