Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born,

Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born, identify themselves as being of Persian heritage. This descriptor is a frequent cause for confusion among non-Persians who know the country as Iran and understand Persia to be an antiquated name for the empire that encompassed part of Iran as well as parts of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. Opponents of the term argue that because some Afghani and Pakistani groups refer to themselves as being of Persian heritage, the term loses meaning as a signifier of nationality. However, others argue that just as the English language recognizes Spain rather than España, English speakers should refer to the country as Persia, and not as Iran, which is the Persian translation of the country’s name.

1. The author is primarily concerned with

A. arguing that English usage of descriptors of nationality should reflect usage within the native languages of the countries in question.
B. clarifying how the fall of the Persian Empire has influenced the terminology that modern citizens of Iran use to define their nationality.
C. distinguishing among three groups that use the same term to describe their national identities.
D. explaining two opposing positions in an argument about the use of a descriptor of national identity.
E. persuading readers that in order for the term Persian to have a clear relationship to nationality, only Iranians, not Afghanis or Pakistanis, should use the term.


2. Which of the following individuals might describe themselves as Persian?

I. an Afghani-born woman who is a naturalized citizen of Iran
II. an American man born in the United States to Iranian immigrant parents
III. an American woman of English descent who has worked in Pakistan for 15 years

A. I Only
B. II Only
C. III Only
D. I and II Only
E. II and III Only


3. According to the passage, the ancient Persian Empire

A. covered parts of modern-day Pakistan and Iran and all of modern-day Afghanistan.
B. covered the entirety of the modern-day nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
C. covered parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan and all of modern-day Iran.
D. covered all of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan and parts of modern-day Pakistan.
E. covered parts of the modern-day nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.