It has long been thought that the original author of the US Pledge of Allegiance was Francis Bellamy, who said that he wrote the pledge one evening in August of 1892. But a historian recently discovered a newspaper article that was published several months before August 1892. The article describes students reciting the same pledge that Bellamy claims he first wrote in August. This means that Bellamy may not have created the pledge after all.
Based on the text, what piece of knowledge about the Pledge of Allegiance has recently become uncertain?
Explanation
Context: Francis Bellamy has long been credited with writing the Pledge of Allegiance one evening in August 1892, but a historian recently discovered a newspaper article, published several months before August 1892, describing students already reciting that same pledge. This discovery casts doubt on whether Bellamy actually originated it. The question asks what piece of knowledge about the pledge has recently become uncertain as a result.
Answer: C) The identity of the person who first wrote the pledge
Why? The discovery makes uncertain who actually wrote the pledge first — maybe it wasn't Bellamy. The identity of the original author is now in question. C states this directly.
Traps:
- A) "The name of the newspaper that first published the pledge" → the passage mentions a newspaper article was found but doesn't make the newspaper's name the uncertain point
- B) "How many changes were made to the pledge in the 1900s" → not mentioned in the passage
- D) "Which part of the pledge students liked best in 1892" → not discussed in the passage