Question

Which piece of evidence explains the cause of the publishing industry being mostly white?

(A) The latest results showed the industry is around 75 percent white and mostly female.
(B) They include the self-reinforcing networks of a historically white, upper-class industry.
(C) Jennifer Baker says the book world faces structural issues common to a wide range of industries.
(D) The publisher has faced criticism about race, and some of it came as recently as February 2020.
2 Select the paragraph from the section "Renewed Urgency For Diversity Initiatives" that explains WHY critics are upset with publishers.
(A) Diversity has been an issue in publishing for years, but the urgency to better represent diverse perspectives has been renewed with the publication of "American Dirt." Mexican American authors and other critics of the novel say the book is proof that publishers value white voices more than others.
(B) "American Dirt" was promoted as a modern version of John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Published in 1939, "Grapes of Wrath" was widely praised and helped define the Great Depression. Cummins and her publisher, Flatiron Books, thought "American Dirt" would do the same for the experience of immigration. Instead, it became an example of the industry's distance from the issue.
(C) Cummins is not of Mexican heritage but visited the country and migrant shelters along the border for book research. In a New York Times op-ed in 2016, she wrote, "My family is mostly white." She has one Puerto Rican grandparent.
(D) Bob Miller, the president of Flatiron Books, released a press statement in response to the rising criticism. "The fact that we were surprised is indicative of a problem," Miller said in the statement.
3 Based on the article, what is the MOST likely reason the author includes the perspective of Michaela T. Glover?
(A) to contrast the reaction of readers of "American Dirt" to that of the author and publishers
(B) to demonstrate the effectiveness of a diversity program aimed at increasing diversity in publishing
(C) to show how college students are easily able to secure internships in the publishing industry
(D) to explain how only one publishing company is making progress toward changing the industry
4 Read the following claim.
Historically, the publishing industry has failed at efforts to become more diverse.
How would Tracy Sherrod MOST likely respond to this claim?
(A) She would agree and suggest that white authors generate more money and have more respect in society.
(B) She would agree and express her frustration with the lack of white voices and diverse stories.
(C) She would disagree and note the changes she has observed since beginning her career.
(D) She would disagree and recall the industry's attempt to print and distribute "American Dirt see

Answer 1

The question is from the newsela article, "Missteps lead publishing industry to review diversity effort."

The answers are:

1. (A) The latest results showed the industry is around 75 percent white and mostly female.
2. (C) Cummins is not of Mexican heritage but visited the country and migrant shelters along the border for book research. In a New York Times op-ed in 2016, she wrote, "My family is mostly white." She has one Puerto Rican grandparent.
3. (B) to demonstrate the effectiveness of a diversity program aimed at increasing diversity in publishing.
4. (C) She would disagree and note the changes she has observed since beginning her career.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. The information, "The children's book publisher Lee & Low released a survey of people who work in publishing. The latest results showed the industry is around 75 percent white and mostly female." conveys that empirical data supports the claim that the publishing industry is mostly white.
2. In the introductory paragraph, the major concern of the critics is conveyed in the line, "Critics of "American Dirt" claim its story makes mistakes in describing Mexican life and culture. The misrepresentation of Mexican culture in "American Dirt" can be accredited to the facts that Cummins is neither Mexican nor was the cultural research adequate.
3. Michaela T. Glover is one of the interns at the United Negro College Fund internship program. The lines, "The organization WeNeedDiverseBooks works with publishers and agents to recruit interns. The program began with five interns in 2015 and will likely place 15-20 this summer. Out of 44 interns, 39 have since graduated from college and 30 have found full-time work in publishing, according to the organization. " convey that the program is working to diversify the publishing industry.
4. Tracy Sherrod conveys her publishing experience in the lines, "I first came into publishing in the 1980s and at that time it was believed that black people didn't read. That statement was made to me multiple times, so we've come a long way," she said. "We're growing as an industry, but there will be some growing pains." Tracy Sherrod believes that the industry is growing.