Question

read the excerpt from clara barton’s childhood. there was, directly in front of the house, a small, circular, natural pond, fed by springs in the bottom and surrounded by a circle of hills forming a basin in which the little pond basked and slept through the summer, welcoming visitors who wished to escape the summer heat. but in winter it became a thing of beauty and a joy forever to the skater. from its sheltered position it froze smooth, even, and dazzling, and had no danger spots. based on the descriptive details of the setting, what can be inferred about the pond? ∘ it was only visited in the winter ∘ it was the only source of water ∘ it was revered when it froze over ∘ it was only visited in the summer

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: The text says it's visited in summer (for escaping heat) and winter (for skating), so not only winter. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 2: The passage doesn't mention it being the only water source. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 3: In winter, it freezes smooth with no danger spots, making it good for skating ("a joy forever to the skater"), so it's revered (valued) when frozen. This fits.
• Analyze Option 4: It's visited in winter (skating) too, so not only summer. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. It was revered when it froze over