Read this excerpt from I Never Had It Made.
Branch Rickey lost that fight, but when he became the boss of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, he felt the time for equality in baseball had come. He knew that achieving it would be terribly difficult. There would be deep resentment, determined opposition, and perhaps even racial violence. He was convinced he was morally right, and he shrewdly sensed that making the game a truly national one would have healthy financial results. He took his case before the startled directors of the club, and using persuasive eloquence, he won the first battle in what would be a long and bitter campaign. He was voted permission to make the Brooklyn club the pioneer in bringing blacks into baseball.
Winning his directors' approval was almost insignificant in contrast to the task which now lay ahead of the Dodger president. He made certain that word of his plans did not leak out, particularly to the press.
Which detail best supports the central idea that Branch Rickey understood the risks involved in integrating baseball?
A. "Branch Rickey lost that fight, but when he became the boss of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, he felt the time for equality in baseball had come."
B. "He knew that achieving it would be terribly difficult. There would be deep resentment, determined opposition, and perhaps even racial violence."
C. "He was convinced he was morally right, and he shrewdly sensed that making the game a truly national one would have healthy financial results."
D. "He took his case before the startled directors of the club, and using persuasive eloquence, he won the first battle in what would be a long and bitter campaign."
its b
To determine which detail best supports the central idea that Branch Rickey understood the risks involved in integrating baseball, let's examine the options:
A. "Branch Rickey lost that fight, but when he became the boss of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, he felt the time for equality in baseball had come."
This detail mentions that Rickey felt the time for equality had come, but it does not directly address his understanding of the risks involved.
B. "He knew that achieving it would be terribly difficult. There would be deep resentment, determined opposition, and perhaps even racial violence."
This detail directly states that Rickey understood the difficulties and risks associated with integrating baseball, including resentment, opposition, and potential violence. It suggests that he was well aware of the challenges he would face.
C. "He was convinced he was morally right, and he shrewdly sensed that making the game a truly national one would have healthy financial results."
This detail mentions Rickey's conviction in his moral stance and his awareness of the potential financial benefits of integrating baseball. While these factors may have contributed to his decision, they do not explicitly address his understanding of the risks involved.
D. "He took his case before the startled directors of the club, and using persuasive eloquence, he won the first battle in what would be a long and bitter campaign."
This detail highlights Rickey's success in convincing the directors of the club but does not directly address his understanding of the risks.
Based on these evaluations, option B is the best choice. It clearly states that Rickey knew achieving equality would be difficult and mentions the potential risks involved, including deep resentment, opposition, and racial violence.