Question

We lived in the country, in the middle of an alfalfa field; we had no immediate access to Bobbie Brooks sweaters. I went to school in the hand-me-downs of a cousin three years older. She had excellent fashion sense, but during the three-year lag her every sleek outfit turned to a pumpkin. … My black lace-up oxfords, which my parents perceived to have orthopedic value, carried their own weight in the spectacle.
Judging from the diction in the excerpt, what is the implicit meaning Kingsolver is conveying?

a) Living on a farm is a hard way of life.
b) Kingsolver’s parents were an embarrassment.
c) Kingsolver’s unfashionable clothes and shoes made her feel like she stuck out like a freak in a circus.
d) Kingsolver’s unfashionable clothes and shoes made her look poor.

Answer 1

Answer:

Judging from the diction in the excerpt, the implicit meaning Kingsolver is conveying is that:

a) Living on a farm is a hard way of life.

Explanation:

There are a few things to make clear here, first of all, even though we don't really get a confirmation that Kingsolver's lived on a farm, the text never says she felt like a circus freak, or that her clothing made her look poor, or that she was embarrassed from her parents. However, her emphasis does show up that it was hard to wear these clothes. Relating to A) stronger than any other option.

Answer 2

I think it's d) ; it proves the stereotype of living in the country