Frank and Sally Are a Brother and Sister Who Live

Multiple Choice

Frank and Sally are a brother and sister who live in the United States. Their mother is white and their father is black. When their parents had to fill out the 2010 census form, they indicated that their children were a mix of black and white. If Frank and Sally lived in Brazil, they might be classified quite differently. Frank has black hair and a slightly darker skin tone than his sister. He has many of the features of his father. Sally, on the other hand, has very light brown hair and lighter skin. In Brazil, Frank and Sally would not be classified into the same racial category. What would explain the differences in racial classification for Frank and Sally?

A) The United States has a more extensive classification system than that of Brazil.
B) Brazil has a classification system based on a number of physical characteristics.
C) American society is more accepting of interracial people than Brazilian society.
D) Brazil has not updated its census categories, whereas the United States has kept more current.