Question

read this excerpt from a girl from yamhill.

proud to be the bearer of astonishing news, i run back. \daddy! theres a tree in the sitting room!\

i expect my father to spring from his chair, alarmed, and rush to the sitting room. instead, my parents laugh. they explain about christmas trees and decorations.

oh. is that all? a christmas tree is interesting, but i am disappointed. a tree slipping into the house at night had appealed to me. i want my father to charge into the sitting room to save us all from the intruder.

based on this excerpt, the reader can reasonably infer that the narrator is

looking for adventure and excitement.
excited to receive christmas presents.
embarrassed that her parents are laughing at her.
confused about why her parents tricked her.

Explanation:

Analyze the narrator's expectations

Using the Character Emotion Analysis knowledge point
The narrator runs back "proud to be the bearer of astonishing news" and expects her father to "spring from his chair, alarmed, and rush to the sitting room." This shows she anticipated a dramatic, high-stakes reaction to her discovery.

Evaluate the narrator's disappointment

Using the Literary Inference knowledge point
When her parents laugh and explain it is just a Christmas tree, she feels disappointed. She notes that "A tree slipping into the house at night had appealed to me" and that she wanted her father to "charge into the sitting room to save us all from the intruder."

Connect evidence to the options

Using the Textual Evidence Analysis knowledge point

• Looking for adventure and excitement: Supported by her desire for a dramatic "intruder" scenario and her disappointment when the reality is mundane.
• Excited to receive Christmas presents: Not mentioned or supported by her reaction.
• Embarrassed that her parents are laughing: She expresses disappointment, not embarrassment.
• Confused about why her parents tricked her: They did not trick her; they simply explained what a Christmas tree is.

Answer:

• (A) looking for adventure and excitement. (Correct answer)
• (B) excited to receive Christmas presents.
• (C) embarrassed that her parents are laughing at her.
• (D) confused about why her parents tricked her.