Read the excerpt from "a quilt of a country."

america is an improbable idea. a mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone. "of all the nations in the world, the united states was built in nobody's image," the historian daniel boorstin wrote. that's because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. out of many, one. that is the ideal.

which statement best explains the role context plays in better understanding this excerpt?

quindlen uses the context of american diversity to readers rethink the concept of american identity and understand that she supports the idea of unity among americans of all cultures.

understanding that quindlen is the descendant of immigrants the reader realize that she supports the idea that some cultures are naturally better than others.

quindlen uses the context of living in the united states during the 9/11 attacks to the reader realize that she feels that unity among all americans is impossible to achieve.

understanding that quindlen is an immigrant from another country readers realize that she understands societies like the united states more than most people.

Quindlen uses the context of American diversity to help readers rethink the concept of American identity and understand that she supports the idea of unity among Americans of all cultures.

Explanation:

At the beginning of this text Quindlen criticizes the false union that America shows before the great diversity that the nation possesses. Throughout the text Quindlen expresses how this diversity presents itself as unmixed pieces that do not unite. however, the end of the text reinforces the idea that just like a patchwork, America should be united, it should be a single organism composed of several different parts that unite in something bigger and better.

The part of the text that shows this more explicitly is:  "That's because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal."

- "there are several movements that doris lessing was associated with. first of all, communism. she pursued her communist beliefs and included them in her writing, and was also a member of several communist book clubs. she is also strongly associated with feminism, her fight for equality and women's rights.

doris lessing is the kind of writer who has followers, not just readers. they have been engaged to her chiefly because of her involvement in major problems, such as politics and woman-ism."

"the monkey's paw" is a rare story in that the theme is actually stated in the story. sgt. maj. morris tells the whites that the old fakir who put the spell on the paw said, "fate rules people's lives and those who interfere with fate do so to their sorrow." the message is a warning, but mr. white doesn't believe it. even though sgt. maj. morris makes it clear that he tried wishing with unfortunate results and he tries to throw the paw on the fire,   mr. white makes a wish for 200 pounds only to find that he receives the money when herbert dies in a factory accident. according to the fakir, then, because mr. white had wished for something he should not have had, his son lost his life.

the second wish that mrs. white encourages him to make is for herbert's return--one week after his death. when the strange knocking begins at the door during the windy night, mr. white panicks, believing that the previously dead but still mangled herbert could have walked home from the cemetary and is now at the door. because he fears what his wife will find if she opens the door, mr. white makes his third wish--for the noise to stop.

therefore, he uses his three wishes and to his sorrow, loses his son and disappoints his wife, who fervently believed that their son was at the door. she wanted him back, regardless of his condition.

explanation: