Question 2
The narrator of this passage from a novel is Nasarian, a woman who was born in Kenya and now lives in New York City. (1) Looking at her makes me remember. (2) I can almost feel the heat rising, riding the backs of broken cobblestones, gray and scraped smooth by a ceaseless parade of tired, black, sandaled feet. (3) But that was far away and long ago. (4) Here, this woman peers almost timidly around the curving, splintered wood of the brownstone door, blinking furiously now as the wind and rain whip her face. (5) I stare, and a sudden longing whistles through my mind, dancing around me on each restless gust of cold, wet wind that slams into my chest as I walk down 132nd Street in Harlem. (6) Harlem. (7) So far from my home. (8) So far from the endless Kenyan plains that I still dream about each night. (9) The rain pelts my face, and I shiver as it shimmies down my neck and creeps underneath the thick, scratchy collar of my coat. (10) I cannot stop staring into this woman's face, this African mother draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen. (11) As she descends the stairs, the rain seems to disappear around her. (12) Now that she has committed herself, she does not blink or falter. (13) If anything, the rain has become a tightly woven fruit basket bearing down on the crown of her head, under which her pride demands that she stand erect. (14) The only concession she gives is to pull her head wrap up out of the folds of her long, dark cloak and clutch it tightly underneath her chin. (15) The scarf is a replica of the same gilded hijab my mother wore as a child, long before she became my mother. (16) I know this because it is the outfit that she chooses when she comes to me at night in my dreams. (17) This woman looks nothing like my mother, yet somehow my heart tells me that they are almost exactly the same. (18) She tucks her curling braids underneath the edges of the wrap, attempting to cover the wildness embroidered in her hair. (19) I don't understand why, modesty is no kin to women like her. (20) She cannot help but walk like a mountain's peak through the raunchy streets of Harlem, wearing her continent on the high bridge of her nose, with the valleys curving round like clattering rings into her nostrils. (21) Her exposed heels are lined with the deep furrows of an elephant's trunk. (22) She wears sandals in the November cold, in the hard, trash-swilling rain because the thirsty leather straps remind her of deserts and home (at least that's why I do so).
In context, the statement that the woman is 'draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen' (sentence 10) primarily:
Rationale
Emphasizes how out of place the woman seems in the surrounding environment.
The description of the woman being 'draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen' highlights her distinctiveness against the backdrop of Harlem, suggesting a cultural and contextual dislocation. This imagery emphasizes her regal appearance and contrasts sharply with the cold, rainy setting, underscoring her sense of being out of place.
A) Reveals the narrator's assumptions about the woman's income
This choice misinterprets the focus of the description. While the use of 'gold' may imply wealth, the primary intent of the passage is to convey the woman’s cultural identity and her incongruity with the harsh environment, rather than the narrator's assumptions about her financial status.
B) Explains why the woman might be uncomfortable in the cold weather
Although the description of the clothing suggests it may not be suitable for cold weather, the passage does not explicitly address her discomfort. Instead, it emphasizes her presence and dignity despite the unfavorable weather, making this option less relevant to the main theme.
C) Shows how different the woman's clothing is from the narrator's clothing
While there is an implicit contrast between the woman’s attire and the narrator’s experience, the main point of the description is to convey the woman’s regal bearing and cultural significance rather than merely highlighting differences in clothing choices.
Conclusion
The imagery of the woman dressed in 'gold and wind-crushed linen' serves to accentuate her presence in a challenging environment, reinforcing the theme of cultural dislocation. This vivid description not only illustrates her unique identity but also evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia in the narrator, amplifying the feeling of being out of place in a foreign land.