3.05 Quiz: Author's Craft: "Mother Tongue"

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Which text from "About Russell" best supports the inference that the author's mother was aware of Russell's condition?

"Mommy wasn't even approachable on the subject of her son..."

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Read this excerpt from "Lake Titicaca" by Miguel Angel Asturias. Not let our eyes be stolen by the altiplano that emerges and submerges in every direction. What does the phrase "let our eyes be stolen" mean?

Be distracted.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Read this excerpt from "About Russell" by Rita Williams-Garcia. He seemed to have an entire conversation for her and she was interested. Gasp! They were holding hands! Rosalind and I were ecstatic. How does the word gasp affect the tone of this excerpt?

It conveys a tone of surprise.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Read this excerpt from "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. How does this detail develop the central idea?

It describes the author judging her mother based on her language.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Read this excerpt from "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan. "I am a writer. And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language. I am fascinated by language in daily life. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with." Which statement best explains how this paragraph functions in "Mother Tongue"?

It helps Tan explain the various important roles that language plays in our lives.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. Which statement best expresses the central idea of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan?

The value of our words is not changed by our ability to use language.