Question

read this excerpt from
itmo/rhythm\ by margarita engle.
older cousins show me
how to shake the mules quijada,
to make the blunt teeth
rattle.
guitars.
drums.
gourds.
sticks.
a cow bell.
a washboard.
pretty soon, we have
a whole orchestra.
on cuban farms, even death
can turn into
which statement best describes the impact of the enjambment in the last stanza on the meaning of the excerpt?

• it emphasizes that inspiration can be found in unlikely situations.
• it shows the poet’s opinion that music is an art that brings people together.
• it positions the speaker’s actions as a hobby that many people share.
• it demonstrates that the natural world is a site of loss and renewal.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the enjambment (the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line) in the last stanza and the options:

1. Analyze Option 1: The excerpt shows using ordinary/ unlikely items (mule's quijada, cow bell, washboard) to make music. The enjambment in "On Cuban farms, even death / can turn into..." (implied continuation) and the prior use of everyday objects for music emphasizes inspiration from unlikely situations.
2. Analyze Option 2: The excerpt focuses on creating music from odd items, not on music bringing people together. So this is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option 3: The excerpt is about creating music, not about a hobby shared by many. So this is incorrect.
4. Analyze Option 4: The excerpt does not discuss loss and renewal in the natural world; it's about making music. So this is incorrect.

Answer:

It emphasizes that inspiration can be found in unlikely situations.