Question

hard for me. suppose we give you pretty english names. wouldnt that be more jolly? lets see, now—pamela for you, i think.\ she shrugged in a baffled way at my sister. \thats as close as i can get. and for you,\ she said to me, \how about cynthia? isnt that nice? .... \
4
i cant remember too much about the proceedings in class that day, except for the beginning. the teacher pointed to me and asked me to stand up.
ow, dear, tell the class your name.\
5
i said nothing.
6
\come along,\ she said frowning slightly. \whats your name, dear?\
7
\i dont know,\ i said, finally.
8
the english children in the front of the class—there were about eight or ten of them—giggled and twisted around in their chairs to look at me. i sat down quickly and opened my eyes very wide, hoping in that way to dry them off. the little girl with the braids put out her hand and very tightly touched my arm.
copyright © 2015 by santha rama rau. reproduced with permission of restless books inc. all rights reserved.
1
reread paragraphs 4-8.
what is revealed about santha in this part of the passage?
a. she doesnt want to do what her teacher asks of her.
b. she doesnt understand why no one can remember her name.
c. she doesnt understand who she is supposed to be at school.
d. she doesnt want any of her classmates to get to know her.

Explanation:

• Option A: The passage doesn't show she refuses to follow the teacher's request out of unwillingness; she says "I don't know" about her name, not that she doesn't want to do what's asked.
• Option B: The issue isn't about others remembering her name, but her own confusion about her identity at school (the teacher is giving a new name, and she is confused about who she is supposed to be).
• Option C: When the teacher asks her name, she says "I don't know," and the context of the teacher trying to give her an English name (Pamela, Cynthia) shows she is confused about her identity at school—who she is supposed to be in this new school setting.
• Option D: The passage has no indication she doesn't want classmates to know her; the focus is on her identity confusion, not social avoidance.

Answer:

C. She doesn't understand who she is supposed to be at school.