Reading Comprehension

PT134 · S4 · P2 · Q7 Mexican American Proverb Use

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Mexican Americans share with speakers of Spanish throughout the world a rich and varied repertoire of proverbs as well as a vital tradition of proverb use.

Topic

Mexican American proverbs: their origins, uses, and cultural significance

Framework

Highlight Noteworthy

Main Point

Mexican Americans not only have a rich tradition of proverbs inherited from broader Spanish and European sources, but proverb use plays a particularly important role in teaching youth and fostering a sense of ethnic identity in Mexican American communities. (Most Valuable Sentence: The final sentence of paragraph 3 encapsulates the main takeaway: )

P1: Introduction to Mexican American Proverbs

Mexican Americans, like Spanish speakers worldwide, have a diverse and abundant collection of proverbs, most of which were passed down from Spain or the broader European tradition. These proverbs carry wisdom and can be understood outside specific conversations.

P2: Functions and Didactic Role of Proverbs

Using a proverb is personal and adapts to different situations, BUT community and tradition shape how proverbs are used. In Mexican American communities in particular, proverbs are often used by parents to teach young people—especially about behavior and peer relationships, sometimes more so than in English-speaking traditions. The example proverb about friends highlights concern over outside influences and the desire to maintain traditional norms.

P3: Proverbs as a Foundation for Ethnic Identity

Proverbs aren’t just for giving advice—they also help Mexican Americans feel connected to their ethnic heritage, teaching not only values but also language and cultural traditions. Even the proverbs that aren’t directly educational still help pass on Mexican culture and reinforce a sense of belonging.

7.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

  1. The Mexican American tradition of

    Too Narrow: common proverb tradition

    The only reference to "the common proverb tradition of Europe" in this whole passage is in the final sentence of the first paragraph. While "last sentence of the 1st" is definitely the most common place to find a main point sentence, in this passage that final sentence is a very unimportant aside. The final two sentences of the 1st paragraph are making a pretty wishy-washy point: Most of the proverbs come from Spain, but some don't. Some come the proverb tradition of Europe. Nowhere else in the passage are we remotely discussing the common proverb tradition of Europe, so putting that narrow little detail into the Main Point headline is an instant dealbreaker.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    Spanish-language proverbs figure prominently in

    Why this is right

    Holy Rizzoli & Isles! Our prediction was crazy accurate. We got to our prediction by trying to find a framing idea that encircled this whole discussion of Mexican American proverb use. The very first sentence's sentiment that "They have a vital tradition of proverb use" seemed like a headline, which got fleshed out into two bullet points (paragraph 2 and 3), telling us two different ways they use proverbs. Paragraph 2 said, "to instruct the young" and paragraph 3 said "to foster consciousness of ethnicity".

    Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    90% picked this

  3. Most proverbs that are commonly

    Too Narrow

    This sounds a lot like the last two sentences of the 1st paragraph. Those two sentences don't make an important point. The author isn't saying that proverbs in Mexican American communities are noteworthy because "most come from Spain or from the common European body of proverbs". She's saying that proverbs in Mexican American communities are noteworthy because "it's a vital part of how they instruct the young and foster ethnic connectedness." In addition to this answer zooming in on an inconsequential moment in the passage, this answer is also distorting the facts. We know that most of the proverbs that reached Mexico came from Spain. This answer is saying most of the proverbs commonly used today came from Spain.

    0% picked this

  4. Many people in Mexican American

    Too Narrow

    This answer is much better than the Too Narrow's of (A) and (C). This one hits 1 of the 2 bullet points. Proverbs are indeed important to many people in Mexican American communities for their ability to instruct the young. But this answer loses to (B), which wraps its arms around more of the passage. (B) has language that touches on this "teach young people" paragraph, but it also has language that touches on the 3rd paragraphs discussion of how proverb use strengthens ethnic ties. (One might also complain that "many people" in this answer choice is too weak. It's underselling the idea that proverbs are a vital part of their culture.)

    3% picked this

  5. As is illustrated in the

    Wrong Emphasis: missing Mexican Americans

    Since this answer doesn't include part of our central topic, "Mexican Americans' use of proverbs", it can't possibility be the main point. The main point is a purpose-driven, one sentence takeaway the author wants you to know about the central topic.

    6% picked this

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