A stream cannot rise higher than its source. The atmosphere of homes is no rarer and purer and sweeter than are the mothers in those homes. A race is but a total of families. The nation is the aggregate of its homes. As the whole is sum of all its parts, so the character of the parts will determine the characteristics of the whole. These are all axioms,superscript,1,baseline, and so evident that it seems gratuitous,superscript,2,baseline, to remark it; and yet, unless I am greatly mistaken, most of the unsatisfaction from our past results arises from just such a radical and palpable,superscript,3,baseline, error.

Question

A black-and-white photo of the author sitting in a chair with a book. Caption: Anna J. Cooper, 1858 through 1964.



(from ,begin underline,A Voice from the South,end underline, by Anna Julia Cooper)





,begin bold,,superscript,1,baseline,axioms,end bold, generally accepted principles

,begin bold,,superscript,2,baseline,gratuitous,end bold, needless

,begin bold,,superscript,3,baseline,palpable,end bold, obvious

Question
What does the author mean by ,begin emphasis,the character of the parts will determine the characteristics of the whole,end emphasis,?

Answer options with 4 options
1.
Different pieces must add up perfectly to make something complete.

2.
Starting with a desired result helps inform what needs to be done first.

3.
Knowing where something comes from is the key to understanding it.

4.
A final outcome will have similarities to the elements used to achieve it.

Answer 1

The best answer to the question "What does the author mean by 'the character of the parts will determine the characteristics of the whole'?" is:

4. A final outcome will have similarities to the elements used to achieve it.

This option aligns with the author's argument that the qualities of families (the parts) influence the overall nature of a race or nation (the whole), emphasizing that the foundational aspects are crucial in shaping the larger entity.