Question

question 4 of 20
read the following excerpt from journal of the adventures of a party of california gold - seekers by margaret frink:
on the evening before, the whole family, including my mother, were gathered together in the parlor, looking as if we were all going to our graves the next morning,
how does frink use an idiom in this excerpt?
a. to describe the familys dread before traveling into the unknown
b. to explain the scene before departing by using colorful and vivid language
c. to show a contrast between the excitement and the fear of the journey
d. to suggest that the family didnt expect to be alive the next morning

Explanation:

The idiom "going to our graves" is used figuratively to convey extreme fear/dread, not literal expectation of death. The context is the family's anxiety before a risky journey west (Gold Rush), so the idiom emphasizes their dread of the unknown. Option D misinterprets the idiom literally; B is too vague (not just vivid language but specific emotion); C mentions excitement, which is absent. Thus A is correct.

Answer:

A. To describe the family's dread before traveling into the unknown