Question

read the paragraphs from lather and nothing else.
he came in without a word. i was stropping my best razor. and when i recognized him, i started to shake. but he did not notice. to cover my nervousness, i went on lathering the razor. i used the edge with the tip of my thumb and took another look at it against the light.
meanwhile he was taking off his cartridge - studded belt with the pistol holster suspended from it. he put it on a hook in the wardrobe and hung his cap above it. then he turned full around toward me and, loosening his tie, remarked, its hot as the devil, i want a shave. with that he took his seat.
which words contribute to the tense mood of this passage?
o shake; nervousness
o recognized; razor
o light; suspended
o loosening; shave

Explanation:

The words "shake", "nervousness", "recognized", and "razor" are all relevant to the actions and objects described in the passage. "Shake" and "nervousness" relate to the narrator's physical and emotional state. "Recognized" is about identifying the person. "Razor" is an object used in the described activity (shaving). "Loosening" and "shave" are also related but the other four words more comprehensively contribute to the overall mood and actions in the passage.

Answer:

shake; nervousness; recognized; razor