Mexican American Proverb Use

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Narrow: common proverb tradition1% picked this

   The Mexican American tradition of Spanish-language proverb use differs in important ways from the common

   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%
2. B

   Correct89% picked this

   Spanish-language proverbs figure prominently in Mexican American communities, where they are used both to instruct the young and to promote the

   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.

   89%
3. C

   Too Narrow0% picked this

   Most proverbs that are commonly used in Mexican American communities have their origins in either peninsular Spain or the

   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%
4. D

   Too Narrow3% picked this

   Many people in Mexican American communities use proverbs to teach young people about a wide range of

   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%
5. E

   Wrong Emphasis: missing Mexican Americans6% picked this

   As is illustrated in the Spanish-language tradition, the use of proverbs can serve a wide range of

   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%