Question

Read the excerpt below from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and answer the question that follows.

[H]e lived on the pennies of the youngsters and he didn’t want to be boycotted.



How does the language in the excerpt reveal the setting of the story?


The reference to “youngsters” reveals the reason the author is writing.

The reference to “pennies” reveals the central message or insight of the story.

The reference to “pennies” reveals the historical context of the story.

The reference to “youngsters” reveals a universal message or insight.

Answer 1

Answer: C) The reference to “pennies” reveals the historical context of the story.

Explanation: The setting of a story or a text is the place and time where the story takes place, it can also be the context of the story (political, historical, cultural, etc). In the given excerpt from "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith, the reference to "pennies" reveals the historical context of the story, because it established a period of time where the story must have taken place.

Answer 2

The correct answer among the choices provided is the third option. The reference to "pennies" reveals the historical context of the story. A penny is also usually called as a one-cent coin. In the novel, pennies are wages earned by Katie from doing various jobs.