Identify a group that is described as both an ethnic group and a minority group.

Identify a group that is described as both an ethnic group and a minority group.

• A. European settlers
• B. Native People in the US
• C. Asian immigrants
• D. Middle Eastern communities

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how a group can be defined by shared ancestry, culture, and language while also being a smaller, less powerful segment within a broader society. Native People in the US fit this dual description: they are an ethnic group because they share distinct histories, languages, customs, and identities tied to specific tribes and Indigenous nations. They are also a minority in the national population, and historically they have had less political power and access to resources compared to the dominant group, which is central to what “minority” means in social terms. The other options don’t fit as clearly. European settlers aren’t the minority in the US today; they have been part of the dominant population. Asian immigrants can be considered a minority group in many contexts, but the most classic example of an ethnic group that is also a minority in the US, with deep historical significance, is Native People.

The idea being tested is how a group can be defined by shared ancestry, culture, and language while also being a smaller, less powerful segment within a broader society. Native People in the US fit this dual description: they are an ethnic group because they share distinct histories, languages, customs, and identities tied to specific tribes and Indigenous nations. They are also a minority in the national population, and historically they have had less political power and access to resources compared to the dominant group, which is central to what “minority” means in social terms.

The other options don’t fit as clearly. European settlers aren’t the minority in the US today; they have been part of the dominant population. Asian immigrants can be considered a minority group in many contexts, but the most classic example of an ethnic group that is also a minority in the US, with deep historical significance, is Native People.