Question

tom, tom sherbourne, a veteran who was once a lighthouse keeper in australia. when tom gets invitations to his battalion reunions, he always writes back. always sends good wishes, and a bit of money toward the mess. but he never attends. well, being on the lights, he couldnt even if he wanted to. there are some, he knows, who will take comfort in seeing a familiar face, re - telling a story. but he doesnt want to join in. there were friends he lost - men hed trusted, fought with, drunk with, and shivered with. men he understood without a word, knew as if they were an extension of his body. he thinks about the language that bound them together: words that cropped up in circumstances no one had ever encountered before. a \pineapple\ a \pipsqueak,\ a \plum pudding\: all types of shell which might find their way into your trench. the lice were \chats,\ the food was \scran,\ and a \blighty\ was a wound thatd see you shipped back to hospital in england. he wonders how many men can still speak this secret language. based on the passage, which statement best describes toms feelings about battalion reunions? choose 1 answer: a tom doesnt have strong emotions about the reunions and isnt interested in maintaining connections with his fellow soldiers. b tom has mixed feelings about the reunions, but he doesnt attend because he wants to avoid painful memories. c tom takes great joy in the reunions and looks forward to reminiscing about the unique language and close bonds the soldiers shared. d tom is embarrassed that he is unable to contribute funds toward the reunion and avoids attending because of his shame.

Explanation:

Tom writes back to reunion invitations with good - wishes and money, showing some connection. But he doesn't attend as he lost friends in the war and has memories related to a unique language they shared. His non - attendance seems linked to avoiding painful memories.

Answer:

B. Tom has mixed feelings about the reunions, but he doesn't attend because he wants to avoid painful memories.