Question

Using Evidence to Support One Claim
A graph titled Percent of Population 25 Years and Over with a High School Diploma or More by Race shows percent labeled on the x-axis and years labeled on the y-axis. In 1960, 21.7 percent were Black American and 43.2 percent were White. In 1980, 51.2 percent were Black American and 68.8 percent were White. In 2000, 72.3 percent were Black American and 83.6 percent were White.

How does evidence in this graph support a claim that King’s dream of equality is being achieved in education between these two groups?

The percent of Black Americans with a diploma has remained steady with Whites.
The percent of Black Americans with a diploma is getting closer to that of Whites.
The percent of Black Americans with a diploma has decreased over time.
Both groups have an equal number of people with diplomas.

Answer 1

The percent of Black Americans with a diploma is getting closer to that of Whites.

Evidence: both groups’ rates rose (Black: 21.7% → 51.2% → 72.3%; White: 43.2% → 68.8% → 83.6%), and the gap narrowed (≈21.5 percentage points in 1960 → ≈17.6 in 1980 → ≈11.3 in 2000), showing progress toward educational equality.