Question

read each quotation from barrio boy and the statement below it. which statement is a correct inference based on the quotation?

you never knew when a compadre or comadre, of your aunt, or your uncle, or your father, or your mother was watching.
ernestos childhood was tense at times.

people talked to one another on the street in low tones; only drunks and muchachos mal educados raised their voices, or the arrieros when they shouted to their donkeys.
ernestos family owned a donkey.

our train was still there, the flats and boxcars and coaches deserted, mexican and american soldiers walking back and forth.
ernesto felt safe at the train station.

we stayed only one day at the hotel, long enough for me to become acquainted with the bathtub, located in another closet next to the toilet.
ernesto normally takes a bath every day.

Explanation:

Analyze the first option

Using the Barrio Boy Analysis and Literary Inference knowledge points:
The quotation states that any adult in the community (compadre, comadre, aunt, uncle, father, mother) might be watching at any moment. The statement below it infers that Ernesto's childhood was tense at times. Knowing that you are constantly being watched and monitored by community members naturally creates a feeling of tension or pressure to behave, making this a logical and correct inference.

Analyze the second option

The quotation describes how people spoke quietly on the street, and only drunks, rude children, or mule drivers (arrieros) shouting at donkeys raised their voices. The statement below it claims Ernesto's family owned a donkey. This is an incorrect inference because mentioning that mule drivers shout at donkeys does not mean Ernesto's family owned one.

Analyze the third option

The quotation describes a deserted train station with Mexican and American soldiers walking back and forth. The statement below it claims Ernesto felt safe at the train station. This is incorrect because a deserted station with armed soldiers walking around generally suggests tension or danger, not safety.

Analyze the fourth option

The quotation mentions staying only one day at a hotel, just long enough to become acquainted with a bathtub in a closet. The statement below it claims Ernesto normally takes a bath every day. This is incorrect because being unfamiliar with a bathtub ("become acquainted with") suggests he did not use one regularly, let alone every day.

Answer:

• **(A) Quotation: "You never knew when a compadre or comadre, of your aunt, or your uncle, or your father, or your mother was watching."

Statement: Ernesto's childhood was tense at times. (Correct answer)**

• (B) Quotation: "People talked to one another on the street in low tones; only drunks and muchachos mal educados raised their voices, or the arrieros when they shouted to their donkeys."

Statement: Ernesto's family owned a donkey.

• (C) Quotation: "Our train was still there, the flats and boxcars and coaches deserted, Mexican and American soldiers walking back and forth."

Statement: Ernesto felt safe at the train station.

• (D) Quotation: "We stayed only one day at the hotel, long enough for me to become acquainted with the bathtub, located in another closet next to the toilet."

Statement: Ernesto normally takes a bath every day.