In the passage, the label Reds is associated with anger over which behavior by the Okies?

In the passage, the label Reds is associated with anger over which behavior by the Okies?

• A. Wanting better wages
• B. Being dirty
• C. Begging
• D. Criminal activities

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how language labels reveal why people react with anger toward a group. In the passage, calling the Okies “Reds” shows a smear that ties their actions to political radicalism. The anger isn’t about cleanliness, begging, or criminal acts; it’s about the Okies pushing for better wages and fair pay. By portraying them as “Reds,” the speaker frames their wage demands as a dangerous, even subversive challenge to the social order and to the owners’ profits. This makes the economic demand—seeking higher wages—the focal point of the hostility.

The idea being tested is how language labels reveal why people react with anger toward a group. In the passage, calling the Okies “Reds” shows a smear that ties their actions to political radicalism. The anger isn’t about cleanliness, begging, or criminal acts; it’s about the Okies pushing for better wages and fair pay. By portraying them as “Reds,” the speaker frames their wage demands as a dangerous, even subversive challenge to the social order and to the owners’ profits. This makes the economic demand—seeking higher wages—the focal point of the hostility.