The French teacher, Mr. Bueller, realizes that Victor is faking his knowledge of French. Identify the event from Mr. Bueller’s past that leads him to keep the truth to himself. In what way does his decision help advance the plot?

The past event that helps Mr. Bueller understand Victor's situation is that he had also tried his very best to try to impress his then college girlfriend. In the same way, he knew Victor was also trying to get Teresa's attention, and thus, Mr. Bueller decided not to reveal anything or speak anything about the French class.

This decision helped Victor gain the confidence he needed to be with Teresa and also allowed them to hang out and be acquainted. It paved the way for the two to get to know each other without Victor being embarrassed by their French teacher and ruining all his plans. And it wouldn't also lead to Victor tutoring Teresa.

Explanation:

Gary Soto's short story "Seventh Grade" is about a young seventh-grade boy named Victor and his attempts to impress a girl that she liked in the same class. The short story occurred at the school grounds and especially at the French class.

The French teacher Mr. Bueller also knows that Victor is trying to impress Teresa, who is taking the French class. His decision to join the class is an act to be near her, impress her, and hopefully get her to notice him and like him. Mr. Bueller knows too well what Victor is doing because he too had acted the same way with his college girlfriend. He had done everything possible and even spent way above his ability to impress his girlfriend, and so, he knows Victor's actions are all too similar to his past.

So, he did not reveal the truth about Victor's situation in speaking French, thereby prevent any embarrassment for Victor. This act also paved the way for Victor and Teresa to hang out together and thus, makes it possible for Victor to feel successful in trying to get Teresa to notice him. This decision to withhold any of the truths helped Victor gaining Teresa's attention and thus, helped them get together with Victor agreeing to tutor her in French.

the words “strangest” and “unusual” suggest that the narrator is about to tell the story of an odd or puzzling group of people.