Question

cphs: literature & comp i - block (23.0616030)
characters, conflict, and idioms in \daughter of invention\ by julia alvarez
\daughter of invention\
from how the garcia girls lost their accents
her daughters would seek her out at night when she seemed to have a moment
to talk to them—they were having trouble at school or they wanted her to
persuade their father to give them permission to go into the city or to a shopping
mall or a movie—in broad daylight, mami laura would wave them out of her
room. \the problem with you girls...\ the problem boiled down to the fact that
they wanted to become americans and their father—and their mother, too, at first
—would have none of it.
\you girls are going to drive me crazy,\ she threatened, if they kept nagging.
\when i end up in bellevue, youll be safely sorry!\
she spoke in english when she argued with them. and her english was a
mishmash of mixed-up idioms and sayings that showed she was \green behind
the ears,\ as she called it.
if her husband insisted she speak in spanish to the girls so they wouldnt forget
their native tongue, shed snap, \when in rome, do unto the romans.\
yoyo, the big mouth, had become the spokesman for her sisters, and she stood
her ground in that bedroom. \were not going to that school anymore, mami.\
\you have to.\ her eyes would widen with worry. \in this country, it is against the
law not to go to school. you want us to get thrown out?\
read the excerpt from \daughter of invention\.
\ay, cuquita.\ that was her communal pet name for whoever was in her
favor. \cuquita, when i make a million, buy you your very own typewriter.\
(yoyo had been nagging her mother for one just like the one her father had
bought to do his order forms at home.) \gravy on the turkey,\ was what she
called it when someone was buttering her up. she buttered and poured. \ill
hire you your very own typist.\
based on this excerpt, what can be concluded about laura?
she is not comfortable communicating in english.
she speaks better english than her daughter.
she only speaks english to her daughter.
she does not know the grammar rules in english.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the excerpt. The text says Laura's English is a "mishmash of mixed - up idioms and sayings" and "green behind the ears" (showing non - standard usage), while her daughters are more assimilated (wanting to go out, using English in school). The option "She does not know the grammar rules in English" fits because her mixed - up idioms and non - standard English suggest grammatical unfamiliarity. Other options: "She is not comfortable communicating in English" is wrong as she speaks English to argue; "She only speaks English to her daughter" is wrong (she speaks to daughters generally); "She speaks better English than her daughter" is wrong (daughters are more assimilated, so likely better at English).

Answer:

She does not know the grammar rules in English.