Question

when my sisters and i cared too much about our appearance, my mother would tell us how trujillos vanity knew no bounds. how in order to appear taller, his shoes were specially made abroad with built - in heels that added inches to his height. how plumes for his napoleonic hats were purchased in paris and shipped in vacuum - packed boxes to the island. how his uniforms were trimmed with tassels and gold epaulettes and red sashes, pinned with his medals, crisscrossing his chest. how he costumed himself in dress uniforms and ceremonial hats and white gloves—all of this in a tropical country where men wore guayaberas in lieu of suit jackets, short - sleeved shirts worn untucked so the body could be ventilated. my mother could go on and on. —“a genetics of justice,” julia alvarez what is a central idea in this passage? trujillo was a dictator whose cruelty knew no bounds. trujillo was extremely concerned about his appearance. trujillo dressed in a manner that was typical for the tropics. trujillo was revered in the authors family and seen as a hero.

Explanation:

To find the central idea, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage focuses on Trujillo's appearance, not his cruelty, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The passage details Trujillo's efforts for his appearance (special shoes, imported plumes, elaborate uniforms), showing his extreme concern for how he looked. This matches the passage's content.
• Option 3: The passage contrasts his elaborate dress with typical tropical attire, so he did not dress typically, making this incorrect.
• Option 4: The passage doesn't show reverence or him as a hero; it focuses on his vanity, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Trujillo was extremely concerned about his appearance.