Question

question 4 of 10

read this excerpt from the exposition in \the monkeys paw.\

without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of lakesnam villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly.

what is one piece of information you can infer about the story from this sentence?

a. the house has a name, so it probably knows how to speak and make decisions.
b. the parlor of the house is small, so the characters are probably desperately poor.
c. there is a fire burning to heat and light a house, so the story is likely set in the past.
d. the weather is cold and wet, so the story is likely to be a comedy with a happy ending.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt and question

Using the The Monkeys Paw and Exposition knowledge points

• The excerpt describes a cold, wet night outside, while inside a fire burns for heat and light.
• The question asks for a logical inference about the story based on this sentence.

Evaluate the options

Using the Literary Analysis knowledge point

• Option A suggests the house can speak and make decisions because it has a name, which is an incorrect, literal misinterpretation of personification.
• Option B suggests a small parlor means the characters are desperately poor, which is an overstatement not supported by the text.
• Option C suggests that relying on a fireplace for heat and light indicates the story is likely set in the past, which is a historically logical inference.
• Option D suggests cold, wet weather indicates a comedy with a happy ending, which contradicts standard literary atmosphere and foreshadowing.

Answer:

• A. The house has a name, so it probably knows how to speak and make decisions.
• B. The parlor of the house is small, so the characters are probably desperately poor.
• C. There is a fire burning to heat and light a house, so the story is likely set in the past. (Correct answer)
• D. The weather is cold and wet, so the story is likely to be a comedy with a happy ending.