What causes Alfonso and Ernie to argue in "Broken Chain"?

a) the idea that Ernie should get to eat more frijoles because he is older than Alfonso

b) the fact that Alfonso laughs at Ernie when he tells him about the girls who stood him up

c) the fact that although Alfonso is younger, he has a girlfriend before Ernie does

d) the idea that Alfonso's new girlfriend might be the same girl who stood Ernie up

Answer: D

d) The idea that Alfonso's new girlfriend might be the same girl who stood Ernie up.

Explanation:

Gary Soto's short story "Broken Chain" tells the story of how a young boy from a Hispanic family tried hard to look 'cool' and likable. He would make great efforts to straighten his crooked teeth and also tried hard to be like his other American friends. When he met the girl Sandra, he felt he had regained his self esteem and became more confident of himself.

In the story, the conflict between the brothers was due to the idea of Ernie believing Alfonso's "girl" Sandra as the very same girl that stood him up. He wanted to get even with her which left his younger brother enraged and thus began the argument.