“i have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since i saw a tractor tire blow up and throw newt hardbine's father over the top of the standard oil sign. i'm not lying. he got stuck up there.” (the bean trees, a novel by barbara kingsolver. copyright © 1988 by barbara kingsolver. all rights reserved. reprinted by permission of harpercollins publishers.) what is the significance of the first lines in the novel? a. to explain missy's phobia of tractors b. to add an element of slapstick humor c. to establish a folksy, humorous tone d. to show newt hardbine's incompetence as a mechanic