Question

read the excerpt from julius caesar, act 2, scene 1.
portia. brutus, my lord.
brutus. portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
it is not for your health thus to commit
your weak condition to the raw cold morning.
portia. nor for yours neither. youve ungently, brutus,
stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper
you suddenly arose, and walked about
musing and sighing, with your arms across,
and when i asked you what the matter was,
you stared upon me with ungentle looks.
i urged you further, then you scratched your head,
and too impatiently stamped with your foot.
yet i insisted, yet you answered not,
but with an angry wafture of your hand
gave sign for me to leave you. so i did.
which statement best summarizes the conflict in this passage?
portia is upset because brutus is behaving as if something is wrong, and he will not confide in her.
brutus is concerned that portia will betray him to her acquaintances.
portia is offended because brutus is routinely impatient with her.
brutus is very sick, and portia is worried that he will die if he does not eat or sleep.

Explanation:

Portia notices Brutus' strange behavior (leaving bed urgently, acting distant at supper, not answering her questions). She is upset that he won't confide in her. The other options are incorrect. There's no indication Brutus thinks Portia will betray him (second option). There's no mention of Brutus being routinely impatient (third option). And while Brutus is acting odd, there's no clear sign he's sick in a life - threatening way (fourth option).

Answer:

Portia is upset because Brutus is behaving as if something is wrong, and he will not confide in her.