Question

to take me to a place without sun,
without the smell of tomatoes burning
on swing shift in the greasy summer air
maybe it’s here
en los campos extraños de esta ciudad
where i’ll find it, that part of me
mown under
like a corpse
or a loose seed.
which of the following descriptions most clearly details the difference between hema, the narrator in “once in a lifetime,” and the speaker in “freeway 280”?
a. hema is chicana, and the speaker of “freeway 280” is bengali american.
b. hema is an adult, and the speaker of “freeway 280” is a child.
c. hema’s identity is influenced by her parents, whereas the speaker of “freeway 280” is searching for her identity
d. hema was born in the united states, while the speaker of “freeway 280” is an immigrant.

Explanation:

• Option A: The speaker in "Freeway 280" uses Spanish phrases (like "en los campos extraños"), suggesting a Chicana background, not Bengali American. Eliminate A.
• Option B: Hema in "Once in a Lifetime" is a child (experiencing cultural shifts as a kid), and the speaker in "Freeway 280" reflects on adult experiences (work, identity search). So B's description is reversed. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Hema’s identity is shaped by her parents’ (immigrant) experiences and cultural teachings. The speaker in "Freeway 280" is searching for a lost part of her identity ("that part of me/mown under"), aligning with this option.
• Option D: Hema is the child of immigrants, not born in the US. The speaker in "Freeway 280" does not indicate being an immigrant (the Spanish phrases suggest a Chicana, possibly US - born or with cultural roots). Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Hema’s identity is influenced by her parents, whereas the speaker of "Freeway 280" is searching for her identity