Question

figurative language
excerpt from a christmas carol by charles dickens
scrooge never painted out old marley’s name. there it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door, scrooge and marley. the firm was known as scrooge and marley. sometimes people new to the business called scrooge scrooge, and sometimes marley, but he answered to both names. it was all the same to him. oh! but he was a tight - fisted hand at the grindstone, scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self - contained, and solitary as an oyster. the cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. a frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. he carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog - days; and didn’t thaw it one degree.
read the phrase from the excerpt.
he was a tight - fisted hand at the grindstone
what does the author mean?
a scrooge did not like to spend money.
b scrooge kept his hands on everything.
c scrooge was a rough person.
d scrooge has hands like rock.
read the phrase from the excerpt.
solitary as an oyster
the simile in this phrase -
a suggests scrooge is mean
b gives scrooge a soft appearance
c has a strong impact on character
d shows scrooge is always alone
short answer: how would you describe scrooge in your own words?

figurative language
excerpt from joyful breaths
by nigel
breathing in, deep breaths
transform your mind with life
mindfulness will help you live a joyful
life of happiness
this mindfulness and happiness is
always present
every moment in your life gives birth
to joy and happiness
every step is peace, every step is
possible
what theme best fits the poet’s meaning
in line 2?
a your mind is the key to changing your life.
b life is important and you should not waste time.
c bringing life into your mind will help calm you down.
d calm breathing will help you enjoy your life.
why does the poet repeat “every step” at the end of
the poem?
a to tell all the steps required in the process
b to stress how you must repeat this process
c to say how life can lead you along every step
d to focus on taking small steps at a time

Explanation:

First Question (about "light - fisted hand at the grindstone")

The phrase "light - fisted hand at the grindstone" along with other descriptions like "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous" and details about Scrooge not spending money (e.g., not painting out Marley's name to save money, icing his office even in hot days) suggest that "light - fisted" here means stingy with money. Option A says Scrooge did not like to spend money, which matches. Option B is incorrect as there's no info about him controlling everything. Option C's "rough person" isn't supported by this phrase. Option D's "hands like rock" is a misinterpretation of "light - fisted".

A simile compares two things using "like" or "as". "Solitary as an oyster" compares Scrooge's solitude to an oyster's solitary nature (oysters are often alone in their shells). Option D says it shows Scrooge is always alone, which fits. Option A is about being mean, not solitude. Option B is wrong as oysters and the simile don't give a soft appearance. Option C's "strong impact on character" is not what the simile is about.

From the excerpt, Scrooge is stingy (light - fisted, doesn't spend money, ices his office to save), solitary (like an oyster), cold - hearted (cold within him that affects his features), and covetous (grasping, clutching). He is a miserly, lonely, and cold - tempered old man.

Answer:

A. Scrooge did not like to spend money.

Second Question (about "solitary as an oyster")