Question

it is dangerous
to spurn the clothes you were born to wear
for the sake of fashion; dangerous
to use weapons and sharp instruments
you are not familiar with; dangerous
to disdain the plaster saints
before which your mother kneels
praying with embarrassing fervor
that you survive in the place you have chosen to live:

the items listed in this excerpt symbolize
the ways of life that are unfamiliar to the speaker.
the fervent religious beliefs of the speaker’s mother.
the speaker’s desire to forget embarrassing traditions.
the traditions and customs of the speaker’s native land.

Explanation:

The excerpt mentions "clothes you were born to wear", "weapons... you are not familiar with", and "plaster saints before which your mother kneels"—these represent elements of the speaker's native culture (traditional clothing, cultural tools/weapons, religious traditions). Let's analyze each option:

• Option 1: The items are from the speaker’s native land (familiar in origin, even if the speaker is in a new place), so not "unfamiliar to the speaker". Eliminate.
• Option 2: The "plaster saints" relate to the mother’s religion, but the other items (clothes, weapons) are not about her religious beliefs. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The text says it’s "dangerous" to spurn these items, implying the speaker should respect traditions, not forget them. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The clothes (cultural attire), weapons (cultural tools), and religious figures (cultural/religious traditions) all symbolize the native land’s customs. This fits.

Answer:

D. the traditions and customs of the speaker’s native land