Question

unit 1: born a crime
read the following passage from born a crime and answer the questions to the best of your ability.

i soon learned that the quickest way to bridge the race gap was through language. soweto was a melting pot: families from different tribes and homelands. most kids in the township spoke only their home language, but i learned several languages because i grew up in a house where there was no option but to learn them. my mom made sure english was the first language i spoke. if youre black in south africa, speaking english is the one thing that can give you a leg up. english is the language of money. english comprehension is equated with intelligence. if youre looking for a job, english is the differen between getting the job or staying unemployed. if youre standing in the dock, english is the differ between getting off with a fine or going to prison.

1. according to the passage, which situation most directly led trevor to learn multiple

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a. he attended a school with students from many different races.
b. he lived in a home where learning several languages was required by hi
c. he wanted to communicate better with other kids in the township.
d. he needed to learn languages in order to find work.

1. what does trevor’s description of his mother’s view of english suggest ab

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a. she believed speaking english would damage his cultural iden
b. she preferred that he focus only on his home language.
c. she didn’t think learning languages was important.
d. she wanted to give him the best chance to succeed.

1. which statement best expresses a central idea of the passage?

a. language can be a powerful tool for social and econo
b. most children in soweto easily switched between s
c. families in the township often discouraged learni
d. social success depends mainly on where a perso

1. in the underlined sentence, the phrase “leg up” most

a. a physical advantage in climbing
b. an unfair shortcut
c. a helpful advantage or boost
d. a requirement for survival

Explanation:

1. Question 16: The passage states "I grew up in a house where there was no option but to learn them", so the home environment forced Trevor to learn multiple languages.
2. Question 17: Trevor's mom prioritized English first because it provided economic and social advantages, to give him the best chance to succeed in apartheid South Africa.
3. Question 18: The passage focuses on how language (especially English) creates access to jobs, money, and better outcomes, framing language as a powerful social and economic tool.
4. Question 19: "Leg up" in this context means a helpful, legitimate advantage that improves one's chances of success in the context of apartheid South Africa.

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Answer:

1. b. He lived in a home where learning several languages was required by his family.
2. d. She wanted to give him the best chance to succeed.
3. a. Language can be a powerful tool for social and economic advancement.
4. c. A helpful advantage or boost