Question

…The achievement gap between black and white
students in South Africa is enormous. In the
province of Western Cape, only 2 out of 1,000
sixth-graders in predominantly black schools
performed at grade level on a math test in 2005,
compared with 2 out of 3 children in schools once
reserved for whites that are now integrated, but
generally in more affluent [wealthier]
neighborhoods.…
—Celia W. Dugger

Which underlying historical factor most
significantly contributed to this achievement gap?
(1) inequalities existing between the races under
apartheid
(2) economic sanctions placed on school
communities
(3) lack of governmental support for white
educational programs
(4) a peri

Answer 1

I think it would be likely to assume that the racial makeup of those schools did not change much and that the first school is predominantly black, and the second predominantly white. And what we see is a better performance in the first of the two schools.

This is likely a consequence of the racial segregation and the discrimination of the non-white population in South Africa till 1994, so the correct answer is (1) inequalities existing between the races under apartheid