Heritage and Multicultural American Identities — Test
Question 4 • TPS EdX English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from "Like Mexicans." We had lunch: sandwiches, potato chips, and iced tea. Carolyn and her mother talked mostly about neighbors and the congregation at the Japanese Methodist Church in West Fresno. Her father, who was in khaki work clothes, excused himself with a wave that was almost a salute and went outside. I heard a truck start, a dog bark, and the truck rattle away. How does Soto build a central idea of his story in the excerpt?
Answer
A
By showing how Carolyn’s family lives in a way that is strange to him, Soto supports the idea that culture causes conflict between people.
B
By showing how Carolyn’s family lives in a way that is boring to him, Soto supports the idea that people from different cultures do not share interests.
C
By showing how Carolyn’s family lives in a way that is similar to him, Soto supports the idea that there are very few differences among cultures.
D
By showing how Carolyn’s family lives in a way that is familiar to him, Soto supports the idea that people from different cultures can also share a culture.
Explanation
The narrator describes an ordinary family lunch and conversation, along with Carolyn’s father leaving for work. These details suggest a familiar, everyday family life rather than something strange or boring to him. By showing that people from different backgrounds can share familiar routines and experiences, Soto develops the idea that cultures can have things in common. The best choice is D: Carolyn’s family’s life feels familiar to him, showing that people from different cultures can also share a culture.
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