Beginning in the 1950s, Navajo Nation legislator Annie Dodge Wauneka continuously worked to promote public health; this
______ effort involved traveling throughout the vast Navajo homeland and writing a medical dictionary for speakers of Diné
bizaad, the Navajo language.
impartial
offhand
persistent
mandatory
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Annie Dodge Wauneka’s work as a
Navajo Nation legislator. As used in this context, “persistent” means existing continuously. The text states that Wauneka
“continuously worked to promote public health,” traveling extensively and authoring a medical dictionary; this indicates that
Wauneka’s effort was persistent.
Choice A is incorrect because describing Wauneka’s effort related to public health as “impartial,” or not partial or biased and
treating all things equally, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text suggests that Wauneka’s continuous work was partial in
one way, as she focused speciﬁcally on promoting public health throughout the Navajo homeland and to speakers of the
Navajo language. Choice B is incorrect because the text emphasizes that Wauneka’s effort to promote public health as a
Navajo Nation legislator was continuous and extensive, involving wide travels and the authoring of a medical dictionary.
Because this work clearly involved care and dedication, it wouldn’t make sense to describe it as “offhand,” or casual and
informal. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Wauneka’s effort to promote public health was
“mandatory,” or required by law or rule, even though Wauneka was a Navajo Nation legislator. Rather than suggesting that
Wauneka’s effort was required for any reason, the text emphasizes the continuous and extensive nature of her work.