How is the message suggested in “Helmeted Hero” similar to the message in the story of Mulan? Think about what the characters accomplish and how they accomplish it.
A. The author creates a parallel between Eric’s football team and the barbarians that invaded China to illustrate the dangers of battle.
B. The author imagines Mulan as Eric, a male football player who wins with his game even though the odds are against him.
C. The author adds Julia into the Mulan character to show that pretending to be someone else can have terrible consequences.
D. The author features a female character who, like Mulan, overturns expectations about girls by proving her abilities.
The correct answer is D. The author features a female character who, like Mulan, overturns expectations about girls by proving her abilities.
Explanation: In both “Helmeted Hero” and the story of Mulan, the central female character challenges traditional gender roles and societal expectations. They demonstrate their strengths and capabilities in male-dominated environments (football for the character in “Helmeted Hero” and the military for Mulan), ultimately achieving success and proving their worth despite adversity. This highlights themes of empowerment and breaking stereotypes associated with gender.