Question

no additional details were added for this
view submission
read the excerpt from \paper pills\ in winesburg, ohio by sherwood anderson.
he was an old man with a white beard and huge nose and hands. long before the time during which we will know him, he was a doctor and drove a jaded white horse from house to house through the streets of winesburg. later he married a girl who had money. she had been left a large fertile farm when her father died. the girl was quiet, tall, and dark, and to many people she seemed very beautiful. everyone in winesburg wondered why she married the doctor. within a year after the marriage, she died.
the knuckles of the doctor’s hands were extraordinarily large. when the hands were closed they looked like clusters of unpainted wooden balls as large as walnuts fastened together by steel rods. he smoked a rich pipe
read the sentence from \paper pills\ by sherwood anderson.
\that is to confound you, you blathering old sentimentalist,\ he cried, shaking with laughter.
in this sentence \confound\ most nearly means ______.
○ confuse
○ interpret
○ crown
○ repeal

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "confound" in the sentence, we analyze the context. The speaker is laughing and using the word to address the "old sentimentalist". "Confuse" makes sense as a taunting or teasing term here, while "interpret" (to explain), "crown" (to place a crown or honor), and "repeal" (to revoke a law) do not fit the context of mocking or bewildering the old man.

Answer:

A. confuse