Question

Read the passage from "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

"I'll say you do a lovely job, thought, so neat. That dress looks professional."


Momma was enjoying the seldom-received compliments. Since everyone we knew (except Mrs. Flowers, of course) could sew competently, praise was rarely handed out for the commonly practiced craft.


"I try, with the help of the Lord, Sister Flowers, to finish the inside just like I does the outside."

[. . .]

"That is a very good job, Mrs. Henderson. You should be proud. You can put your dress back on, Marguerite."

"No ma'am. Pride is a sin. And 'cording to the Good Book, it goeth before a fall."

"That's right. So the Bible says. It's a good thing to keep in mind."

What is the best analysis of this passage?

It entertains the reader because it contrasts what Momma says with what she does.
It informs the reader because it describes the importance of the Bible in Momma’s life.
It teaches the reader because it shows one of the codes of conduct Momma lives by.
It persuades the reader because it makes Momma’s argument against pride clear.

Answer 1

The best choice is: "It teaches the reader because it shows one of the codes of conduct Momma lives by."

Explanation: The passage illustrates Momma’s moral outlook—her reliance on the Bible and the belief that pride is sinful—so it conveys a code of conduct she follows rather than primarily entertaining, informing abstractly, or trying to persuade the reader.