Question

Read the excerpt from "Fish Cheeks." At the end of the meal, my father leaned back and belched loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking. "It’s a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking at his plate with a reddened face. The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp. Which statement best describes the purpose and effect of this excerpt?

a. It entertains readers by revealing how much Tan's father ate and causes them to wonder if it is really a Chinese custom to belch after a meal.
b. It teaches readers how skilled Tan's mother is at cooking and causes them to want to eat Chinese food.
c. It entertains readers by showing how amusing Tan's father is and causes them to laugh at Robert's embarrassment.
d. It teaches readers about an interesting Chinese custom and causes them to determine that the minister is trying to be polite.

Answer 1

The answer is d:

It teaches readers about an interesting Chinese custom and causes them to determine that the minister is trying to be polite

Step-by-step explanation:

Just took the test

Answer 2

d. It teaches readers about an interesting Chinese custom and causes them to determine that the minister is trying to be polite.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tan's father is following a chinese custom that he explains which makes the reader learn about that tradition, and because of that, what can inferred from the passage is that the minister thought that he needed to follow that custom and do the same in order to be polite.