Question

literature & compre - block (23.06.16.030)
characters, conflict, and idioms in \daughter of invention\ by julia alvarez
\daughter of invention\
from how the garcia girls lost their accents
her daughters would seek her out at night when she seemed to have a moment to talk to
them, they were having trouble at school or they wanted her to persuade their father to give
them permission to go into the city or to a shopping mall or a movie—in broad daylight.
mami! laura would wave them out of her room. \the problem with you girls...\ the
problem boiled down to the fact that they wanted to become americans and their father—
and their mother, too, at first—would have none of it.
\you girls are going to drive me crazy!\ she threatened, if they kept nagging. \when i end
up in bellevue, youll be safely sorry!\
she spoke in english when she argued with them. and her english was a mishmash of
mixed-up idioms and sayings that showed she was \green behind the ears,\ as she called
it.
if her husband insisted she speak in spanish to the girls so they wouldnt forget their native
tongue, shed snap, \when in rome, do unto the romans.\
yoyo, the big mouth, had become the spokesman for her sisters, and she stood her ground
in that bedroom. \were not going to that school anymore, mami!\
\you have to.\ her eyes would widen with worry. \in this country, it is against the law not to
up to school. you want us to get thrown out?
\you want us to get killed? those kids were throwing stones today!\
\sticks and stones dont break bones,\ she chanted. yoyo could tell, though, by the look
on her face, it was as if one of those stones the kids had aimed at her daughters had hit
er. but she always pretended they were at fault. \what did you do to provoke them? it
read the excerpt from \daughter of invention\
\maybe not. maybe, just maybe, theres something theyve missed thats important.
with patience and calm, even a burro can climb a palm.\ this last was one of her many
dominican sayings she had imported into her scrambled english
what is the meaning of the idiom underlined in the excerpt?
every story needs to
have a point.
a little encouragement
goes a long way
anything can be
accomplished.
anyone can make
money

Explanation:

The idiom "even a burro can climb a palm" is being interpreted. The context is about having patience and calm, and the idea that with perseverance (or a little encouragement), even a seemingly difficult task (like a burro climbing a palm) can be done. The option "A little encouragement goes a long way" fits as it suggests that small support/encouragement helps achieve something, aligning with the idiom's implication that with the right approach (patience, calm, maybe encouragement), a tough task is manageable. Other options: "Every story needs to have a point" is about narrative purpose, "Anything can be accomplished" is too general, "Anyone can make money" is about finance, not matching the idiom's meaning.

Answer:

A little encouragement goes a long way