Question

a daughter of the samurai
by etsu inagaki sugimoto (excerpt)
su inagaki sugimoto, the daughter of a samurai, was
sed in cold and isolated echigo, japan. in this excerpt
m her memoir, she recounts the extensive preparations
de in her village before each years first snowfall.
japan is often called by foreign people a land of
nshine and cherry blossoms. this is because tourists
nerally visit only the eastern and southern parts of the
untry, where the climate is mild all the year round. on
northwest coast the winters are long, snow often
vering the ground from december to march or april.
in the province of echigo, where was my home, winter
ally began with a heavy snow which came down fast
steady until only the thick, round ridge-poles of our
tched roofs could be seen. then groups of laborers,
straw mats over their shoulders and big woven hats
looked like umbrellas, came and with broad wooden
vels cut tunnels through from one side of the street to
other. the snow was not removed from the middle of
street all winter. it lay in a long pile, towering far above
ouse-tops. the laborers cut steps, for they were
ying snow at intervals all winter, and we children used
imb up and run along the top. we played many games
3
select the correct answer.
how does the author introduce the idea that the province of echigo has a special relationship with winter?
a. she explains that echigo gets an incredible amount of snow and then describes various snow-related traditions.
b. she discusses the challenges of cold weather and then gives examples of the clothing people in echigo wear.
c. she recounts on the history of echigo and then focuses on how her family encloses trees and bushes in straw.
d. she illustrates childrens reaction to the snow and then reveals how the province often houses political offenders.
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Explanation:

The text first states that Echigo has extremely heavy, long-lasting snow (covering ground December to April, snow piles above rooftops). It then details snow-related traditions: laborers cutting snow tunnels/steps, children playing on snow piles, and the village's winter preparations. Option A matches this structure, while other options do not align with the excerpt's content (B focuses only on clothing, C on tree-straw enclosures not mentioned, D on political offenders which is absent).

Answer:

A. She explains that Echigo gets an incredible amount of snow and then describes various snow-related traditions.