Question

read the excerpt from amy tans essay \mother tongue.\

i know this for a fact, because when i was growing up, my mothers \limited\ english limited my perception of her. i was ashamed of her english. i believed that her english reflected the quality of what she had to say. that is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.

which phrase from this excerpt best indicates to the reader that the purpose of this essay is to inform?

\i know this for a fact\
\my mothers limited english\
\the quality of what she had to say\
\her thoughts were imperfect\

Explanation:

Analyze the author's purpose

An informative purpose aims to present factual information, objective evidence, or direct assertions of truth to the reader.

Evaluate the given phrases

• "I know this for a fact" establishes an objective, factual basis for the discussion, signaling an intent to inform the reader of a truth.
• "my mother's 'limited' English" describes a personal circumstance.
• "the quality of what she had to say" and "her thoughts were imperfect" describe subjective beliefs and perceptions the author held in the past.

Select the best indicator

The phrase "I know this for a fact" directly uses the word "fact," which is the strongest linguistic indicator of an informative purpose.

Answer:

• (A) "I know this for a fact" (Correct answer)
• (B) "my mother's 'limited' English"
• (C) "the quality of what she had to say"
• (D) "her thoughts were imperfect"