Question 7 • CMS 2025-2026 English I CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the passage from “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” I have tried often to search behind the sophistication of years for the enchantment I so easily found in those gifts. The essence escapes but its aura remains. To be allowed, no, invited, into the private lives of strangers, and to share their joys and fears, was a chance to exchange the Southern bitter wormwood for a cup of mead with Beowulf or a hot cup of tea and milk with Oliver Twist. When I said aloud, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done . . .” tears of love filled my eyes at my selflessness. What is the most likely reason author Maya Angelou included this passage?
Answer
A
to explain her viewpoint on the wonders of reading
B
to provide actions that show her personality traits
C
to entertain the reader with references to books
D
to persuade the reader of the benefits of the classics
Explanation
Angelou describes how books let her enter the private lives of strangers and share their joys and fears. Her references to Beowulf and Oliver Twist illustrate the pleasure and emotional escape she found in reading. This makes the passage mainly an explanation of her viewpoint on the wonders of reading, not an attempt to persuade readers that only classic books are beneficial.
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