Exploring Cultural Identity through Language — Quiz
Question 29 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from “Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry.” My friend had concluded that if he took his language and culture out of his poetry, he stood a better chance of receiving a fellowship. He took out his native language, the poetic patois of our reality, the rich mixture of Spanish, English, pachuco and street talk which we know so well. In other words, he took the tortillas out of his poetry, which is to say he took the soul out of his poetry. Which best explains how Anaya’s text structure establishes his voice in the excerpt?
Answer
A
Anaya explains how to apply for a fellowship to support his point of view.
B
Anaya compares his writing to a friend’s writing to support his point of view.
C
Anaya relates a story about a poet he knows to support his point of view.
D
Anaya lists a series of facts about language to support his point of view.
Explanation
Anaya tells what his friend did: he removed the languages and cultural expressions from his poetry in hopes of receiving a fellowship. He then uses the tortilla comparison to explain that this choice removed the poetry’s soul. This anecdote gives the excerpt a personal, conversational voice and supports Anaya’s point of view, so the best choice is “Anaya relates a story about a poet he knows to support his point of view.”
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