Question

16- someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. it was brently mallard who entered, a little travel - stained, composedly carrying his grip - sack and umbrella. he had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. he stood amazed at josephines piercing cry; at richards quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.
17- but richards was too late.
18- when the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease -- of the joy that kills.
what does the following passage reveal about the main character, louise mallard? she did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. she wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sisters arms.
louise is immediately struck with grief by her husbands death.
louise is unable to accept her husbands death.
louise is unaffected by her husbands death.

Explanation:

The passage states Louise "wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment" upon hearing of her husband’s death, directly showing immediate grief. Unlike women who can’t accept the news, she reacts with unreserved crying, aligning with the first option. The other options contradict the text: she accepts the news enough to grieve (not unable to accept) and clearly reacts (not unaffected).

Answer:

Louise is immediately struck with grief by her husband's death.