Which one of the following is most strongly implied by the passage?
Avaon February 8, 2020
Why D?
I am very confused as to why the answer choice is D. Can someone explain their rationale for choosing this answer choice and also what makes E wrong? I chose E instead because I felt that there was sufficient evidence in the passage to imply that the use of proverbs was unique in character (perhaps not in frequency or presence) in Mexican American communities.
Reply
Shunheon February 8, 2020
Hi @shafieiava,
Thanks for the question! We need something that is implied by the passage. Take a look at lines 5-6. We’re told in those lines that proverbs can be understood independent of a specific verbal context. Take also a look at lines 13-16. There, we’re told that a proverb’s meaning depends on the particular social context in which the use occurs. This is exactly what (D) tells us—the “some sayings†that (D) refers to are proverbs.
(E), on the other hand, is incorrect because although we’re told in lines 22-24 that the function of proverbs to teach (on things like peer-group relationships) is more prominent in Mexican tradition than in English-speaking traditions, it’s entirely possible that other non-English speaking traditions within the United States (such as immigrants from Asia or Africa) also heavily emphasize those peer-group relationships. It’s also entirely possible that English-speaking populations within the United States emphasize teaching children about peer-group relationships, but in other ways that just aren’t proverb-based. Remember, the question is asking about the emphasis on peer-group relationships, NOT the use of proverbs. Either way, we can’t conclude (E) from the passage. Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.
