#21 - Must Be True

[sarae]

The question refers to the "refugee status under the social group category as it is described in the passage," which is defined as "persons of similar background, habits, or social status."

Since race and religion are mentioned specifically in the definition of a refugee instead of social group, are choices B & C ruled out?

I know the answer is D, but I'm just curious if that is the correct reasoning for those two answers being incorrect.

Thanks!
-Sara

[Ron Gore]

Thanks for your question, Sarae.

You are correct that answers (B) and (C), as well as (E), are incorrect because those circumstances would qualify the asylum seeker for refugee status pursuant to a category other than the social-group category, i.e., race, religion, and political opinion, respectively.

Great job, and good luck!

Ron

[sarae]

Great! Thank you!

[landphil]

Can some help me understand why, such as in C, that woman is not being persecuted? If I google the definition of persecution, I get the following: "subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or their political beliefs."

I do not understand how C does not fulfill this definition of persecution and thus work as the answer.

For D, we do not know for sure that she is facing persecution for being a member of a particular group. Maybe the group is simply "being a member of that country." Whereas, in C, we know that she is facing persecution BECAUSE she is a member of a particular group.