Question

Read paragraph 5 from Chapter 1 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and answer the question. The town reacted to us [Angelou and her brother Bailey] as its inhabitants had reacted to all things new before our coming. It regarded us a while without curiosity but with caution, and after we were seen to be harmless (and children) it closed in around us, as a real mother embraces a stranger’s child. Warmly, but not too familiarly.

What is the implicit meaning in the humor?

A. showing the funny side of small towns in the South
B .subtly showing humor in townspeople comparing the children to some kind of danger or threat, like a bomb
C. saying the townspeople were stupid for treating children with caution
D. poking gentle fun at mothers who like to hug children

Answer 1

The implicit meaning in the humor is subtly showing humor in townspeople comparing the children to some kind of danger or threat, like a bomb.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Chapter 1 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou present a town who sees every little new thing as something to be afraid of until it was proved that it was not dangerous at all, in this case, it is fun how the people who are full grown-ups can be afraid of two little kids who can not be dangerous at all.

Answer 2

B. subtly showing humor in townspeople comparing the children to some kind of danger or threat, like a bomb

Step-by-step explanation:

The paragraph describes how a town reacted to the arrival of some unknown children. It shows us that although the inhabitants of the town were not evil or malicious, they were not very used to new things or people. They took their time to apprehend the new situation, in the way they always did, in a cautious way. It's funny because they have the same method for everything so if it had been a bomb they would have proceeded the same way as they did with the children. Once they were sure they were harmless they accepted them.