Read the paragraph.

Katy had seen her dad polish his old work boots and set them by the door each evening to avoid wearing the papery soles any thinner. She’d heard her mama say something about the bank to old Mrs. Powell that made them both heave heavy sighs and wonder aloud about what President Hoover might do. Then, last night, her mama had scraped the skillet after dinner, depositing some pitiful scraps in paper to store in the icebox. Katy did not understand the grown-up worries.

What historical reality is represented in this fictional paragraph?

Depression-era politics
Depression-era unemployment
Depression-era poverty
Depression-era family values

Depression-era poverty

The historical reality represented in this fictional paragraph is Depression-era poverty.

The historical reality represented in this fictional paragraph is Depression-era poverty. This is evident from the mention of Katy's dad polishing his old work boots to avoid wearing them down further, her mama discussing financial concerns with Mrs. Powell, and Katy's mama scraping meager leftovers to store in the icebox. These details reflect the financial hardships and frugality commonly associated with the Great Depression, a period of economic downturn in the 1930s.