Question 4 • CMS 2026-2027 English III CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue." I’ve heard other terms used, “limited English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker. How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Answer
A
Tan discusses the limits of writing in English to support the idea that authors learn other languages to express their ideas more fully.
B
Tan tells a story to support the idea that people who speak nonstandard forms of English are unable to communicate effectively.
C
Tan presents factual evidence to support the idea that the English language provides fewer opportunities for expression than other languages.
D
Tan expresses an opinion to support the idea that people who speak nonstandard forms of English are unfairly judged in negative ways.
Explanation
Tan objects to the label “limited English” because it suggests that people’s perceptions of the speaker are limited too. This expresses her opinion that people who speak nonstandard English are unfairly viewed or judged. The excerpt does not give factual evidence that English limits expression or claim that these speakers cannot communicate effectively.
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