Question

she lets helen feel the smile on her face. helen sits with a scowl, which suddenly clears; she pats the doll, kisses it, wreathes her face in a large artificial smile, and bears the doll to the washstand, where she carefully sits it. annie watches, pleased.)
very good girl—
(whereupon helen elevates the pitcher and dashes it on the floor instead. annie leaps to her feet and stands inarticulate; helen calmly gropes back to the sewing card and needle.
annie manages to achieve self - control. she picks up a fragment or two of the pitcher, sees helen is puzzling over the card, and resolutely kneels to demonstrate it again. she spells into helens hand.
kate meanwhile coming around the corner with folded sheets on her arm, halts at the doorway and watches them for a moment in silence; she is moved, but level.)
which element of the setting establishes the time period and advances the action?
the washstand
the sewing card
the folded sheets
the doorway

Explanation:

The sewing card is an item that was commonly used in a past time period. It also plays a role in the action as Annie demonstrates it again and Helen is puzzling over it, which helps move the interaction between the characters forward. The washstand is just a piece of furniture for placing the doll. The folded sheets are more about Kate's entrance and don't specifically establish the time period in a way that advances the action as directly as the sewing card. The doorway is a location but not an element that clearly shows the time period and advances the action like the sewing card.

Answer:

the sewing card