Question

1. what does chris mother mean when she tells chris that his dad is \chewing up his words to see how they taste before he lets them out\? (paragraph 7).

a. that chris’ dad wants to make sure he is clear.
b. that chris’ dad is trying not to be mean.
c. that chris’ dad is deciding what to say.
d. that chris’ dad doesn’t like what he’s about to say.

Explanation:

The phrase "chewing up his words to see how they taste before he lets them out" is a metaphor. "Chewing" and "tasting" words before speaking implies that Chris' dad is carefully considering or deciding what to say. Option A is about being clear, which isn't directly related to the metaphor. Option B is about not being mean, which the metaphor doesn't suggest. Option D is about disliking what he'll say, but the metaphor is about the process of deciding what to utter, not his feelings towards the content. So the correct option is C.

Answer:

C. That Chris' dad is deciding what to say.