Read the excerpt from "a quilt of a country." the reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories not of tolerance, but of bigotry. slavery and sweatshops, the burning of crosses and the ostracism of the other. children learn in social-studies class and in the news of the lynching of blacks, the denial of rights to women, the murders of gay men. it is difficult to know how to convince them that this amounts to "crown thy good with brotherhood," that amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful. which statement best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt? due to the many cultures represented in our nation, our history is spoiled by racist acts. the high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people. children in american schools are only learning about the negative parts of american history—and none of the positive. among all of the acts of hatred and racism, there is good in our population made of immigrants.

The statement that best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt is The high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people

Explanation:

The excerpt talks about all the horrors, racism, lack of equality, and how it makes difficult to present to new generations that we should be tolerant and compassionate with others

After reading this excerpt from A Quilt of a Country, I would say that the excerpt that best summarizes the central idea is the second one: The high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people.

Explanation:

I chose the second option because in this excerpt the author is explaining how the coexistence of pluralistic people, despite the first impression of how good it is to live in a place where we all can live with our individualities, is sometimes cruel and, according to the author, "of bigotry". In those nations, the author says, there are "Slavery and sweatshops", "burning of crosses" and, "ostracism of the other". In those places "children learn in social-studies class and in the news of the lynching of blacks", also society deny their rights to women and the murders of gay men. Everything that happens in a pluralistic nation is not as good as we sometimes are told it is; that is why "It is difficult to know how to convince them that this amounts to 'crown thy good with brotherhood', and the reason I chose the second option.

- the mistakes that have been done in the past will repeat themselves

- you will trust all the wrong people

the mending wall was written by robert frost