Read the excerpt from the interview with E. Y. (Yip) Harburg.

'We thought American business was the Rock of Gibraltar. We were a prosperous nation, and nothing could stop us now. A brownstone house was forever. You gave it to your kids and they put marble fronts on it. There was a feeling of continuity. If you made it, it was there forever. Suddenly the big dream exploded.'

How do Harburg's words reflect the experience of many Americans during the Great Depression?

a. Like Harburg, many expected that they could maintain their possessions through the Depression.

b. Like Harburg, many were shocked by the stock market collapse and ensuing Depression.

c. Like Harburg, many were grateful for the lessons they learned from the Depression.

d. Like Harburg, many made meticulous plans to prepare for the Depression.

The correct answer is a. Like Harburg, many expected that they could maintain their possessions through the Depression.

Explanation:

E. Y. - Yip - Harburg was an American songwriter, known by working with many popular artists as well as movies; he is the author of Over the Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz.

The correct answer is letter A since the excerpt could be divided in two different ideas: the first one describes the American dream, compared with the Rock of Gibraltar due to the idea of its strength; there are some other elements that reinforce this idea, such as the marble outside of houses and the though of permanence. The second idea is the last sentence, where everything vanishes into nothing by exploding. This way, it is understood that many people expected to keep their possessions, but it did not happen.