Read the excerpt from Esperanza Rising.

She remembered that he had gone to look for work at the railroad. "Did you get a job?"

His sniffle faded. He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. "It is frustrating. I can fix any engine. But they will only hire Mexicans to lay track and dig ditches, not as mechanics. I've decided to work in the fields until I can convince someone to give me a chance."

What do the underlined words help the reader understand about Miguel’s character?

Miguel is proud to work as a mechanic.
Miguel is happy to live at a work camp.
Miguel is angry at his sister, Esperanza.
Miguel is discouraged because he cannot find work.

User Icon for Bot GPT 4-o mini Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
6 hours ago

The underlined words help the reader understand that Miguel is discouraged because he cannot find work. He expresses frustration about the limitations placed on him due to his ethnicity, indicating that he feels capable of doing more significant work as a mechanic but is not given the opportunity. His decision to work in the fields instead illustrates his disappointment and determination to eventually find a better job.