Question

read the excerpt from \mother tongue.\ i am a writer. and by that definition, i am someone who has always loved language. i am fascinated by language in daily life. i spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language - the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. language is the tool of my trade. and i use them all - all the englishes i grew up with. how does tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt? tan references her writing career to build the idea that writing is the most satisfying career choice for asian americans. tan references her work with language to build the idea that all forms of english are purposeful and meaningful. tan references her fascination with language to build the idea that daily life is the best language source for writers. tan references her thoughts about language to build the idea that more people should think about their language usage.

Explanation:

In the excerpt, Tan mentions being a writer (work with language) and using "all the Englishes I grew up with". This shows that different forms of English (all the Englishes) have their own purposes (evoke emotion, etc.) and are meaningful. The first option about writing being the "most satisfying career choice for Asian Americans" is not supported as there's no comparison to other careers. The third option about "daily life is the best language source" - the text focuses on language's power in daily life but not that it's the "best" source. The fourth option about "more people should think" - the text is about Tan's own thoughts and use of language forms, not a call for others to think.

Answer:

Tan references her work with language to build the idea that all forms of English are purposeful and meaningful.