Question

Read the excerpt from "Broken Chain

Alfonso sat on the porch trying to push his crooked teeth to where he thought they belonged. He hated the way he looked
Last week he did fifty sit-ups a day, thinking that he would burn those already apparent ripples on his stomach to even
deeper ripples, dark ones, so when he went swimming at the canal next summer, girls in cut-offs would notice. And the guys
would think he was tough someone who could take a punch and give it back. He wanted "cuts like those he had seen on a
calendar of an Aztec warrior standing on a pyramid with a woman in his arms.
Why does Soto most likely open the story with this characterization of Alfonso?
to establish the idea that Alfonso cares a lot about how other people see him
to show that Alfonso has an unrealistic view of what makes people beautiful
to establish the idea that Alfonso is often in conflict with the people around him
to show that Alfonso has to work hard to look as good as other people do

Answer 1

Gary Soto characterizes Alfonso at the beginning of "Broken Chain" to show that Alfonso is very concerned with his physical appearance and the way others perceive him.

Step-by-step explanation:

Author Gary Soto likely opens the story "Broken Chain" with the characterization of Alfonso to establish the idea that Alfonso cares a lot about how other people see him. Alfonso's efforts to change his appearance, like pushing his crooked teeth and doing sit-ups to enhance his physique, suggest that he is deeply concerned with his physical image and the impression it makes on others, particularly girls and his peers. His desire to emulate the appearance of an Aztec warrior further underscores his concern with image and the pressure he feels to conform to certain ideals of attractiveness and toughness.

Answer 2

A!!! to establish the idea that Alfonso cares a lot about how other people see him

Step-by-step explanation:

"trying to push his crooked teeth to where he thought they belonged"

"girls in cut-offs would notice"