Question

Read the excerpt from “Raymond's Run.”

Now some people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let on that they practice. Not me. I’ll high-prance down 34th Street like a rodeo pony to keep my knees strong even if it does get my mother uptight so that she walks ahead like she’s not with me, don’t know me, is all by herself on a shopping trip, and I am somebody else’s crazy child.

Which theme is shown most clearly in this excerpt?

a)Strong knees are the secret to improved running.
b)People with natural talent require little practice to win.
c)Being good at something requires hard work and practice.
d)Kids will sometimes go to extremes to embarrass their parents.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B.

She doesn’t care about how she looks to others.

Explanation:"Raymond's Run"

is a short story written by Toni Cade Bambara; in this, the main character and narrator is Hazel Parker or Squeaky. In the excerpt presented, Squeaky explains to keep her legs and knees strong she "high-prance down 34th street like a rodeo pony". But besides this, she recognizes she does this even if other people do not seem to agree with it "even if it does get my mother uptight so that she walks ahead like she’s not with me .I am somebody else’s crazy child". This shows Squeaky is independent and does not care about the opinion of others even the one of her mother, also she is not trying to show anything to other people but only to herself. Thus, the narrative voice reveals Squeaky does not care about how she looks to others.

Answer 2

Being good at something requires hard work and practice. (option c)

• Toni Cade Bambara's short fiction "Raymond's Run" features Hazel Parker or Squeaky as the main character and narrator.
• Squeaky explains in the clip that she "high-prances down 34th street like a rodeo pony" to keep her legs and knees strong.
• She believes that things do not come easily to anyone and that being good at something requires hard work and practice.
• So, without thinking about others Squeaky practices her running in a variety of ways.

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