Question
Read the excerpt from "Fish Cheeks."
My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and their family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert grimaced.
Why does Tan describe her family eating at the same time she describes the reaction of Robert and his family?
to show how delicious Chinese food is
to show Tan’s disgust for her family
to help the reader understand Chinese culture
to help the reader feel Tan’s embarrassment
My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and their family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert grimaced.
Why does Tan describe her family eating at the same time she describes the reaction of Robert and his family?
to show how delicious Chinese food is
to show Tan’s disgust for her family
to help the reader understand Chinese culture
to help the reader feel Tan’s embarrassment
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Tan describes her family eating at the same time she describes the reaction of Robert and his family to help the reader feel Tan’s embarrassment. The contrast between her family's enjoyment of the traditional food and Robert's negative reaction highlights her feelings of self-consciousness and discomfort in that cultural moment.