PART A: Which statement best identifies the central idea of the text? A There is a fine line between discouraging hate speech and compromising one’s right to freedom of speech. B Freedom of speech does not protect one’s right to incite violence from someone through verbal harassment. C Hate speech is more damaging than hate acts due to the fact that words often incite action. D The thoughts that motivate one’s action can influence the severity of one’s punishment for that action.

The correct answer is letter B

Freedom of speech the guarantee guaranteed to any individual to express, seek and receive ideas and information of all kinds, with or without the intervention of third parties, through oral, written, artistic or any other means of communication. The principle of freedom of expression must be protected by the constitution of a democracy, preventing the legislative and executive branches of the government from imposing censorship.

A free and open debate on fundamental national issues generates positive considerations about the best strategy to be adopted in solving the problems of that community. For this reason, the existence of democracy and an educated and well-informed civil society whose access to information allows it to participate in public life, strengthening public institutions with its influence, is fundamental. This is where freedom of expression comes in, as it provides the community with a wide range of ideas, data and opinions free of censorship, which can be evaluated, and possibly embraced. For a free people to govern themselves, they must be free to express themselves, openly, publicly and repeatedly; orally or in writing.