Question

select the correct answer.

read paragraph 13.

(13) the boy could not speak for fright; but the poor woman answered, \its the dear little gentleman offering me his seat for the baby, sir! the lord bless him for a little jewel that he is!\

which phrase best reflects the figurative meaning of jewel as it is used in the passage?

rare feeling
brilliant person
precious child
shimmering personality

Explanation:

Analyze the context of the word

The passage states: "It's the dear little gentleman offering me his seat for the baby, sir! The Lord bless him for a little jewel that he is!" Here, a woman is referring to a young boy who kindly offered his seat to her and her baby. She calls him a "dear little gentleman" and a "little jewel." This indicates she is using Context Clues to express deep gratitude and affection for his kind, valuable, and sweet nature.

Determine the figurative meaning

A literal jewel is a precious, highly valued gemstone. When applied figuratively to a young boy ("little jewel") who has performed a sweet, selfless act, it describes him as someone highly valued, dear, and cherished. Among the choices:

• "rare feeling" refers to an emotion, not a person.
• "brilliant person" emphasizes intelligence or outstanding talent, which does not fit the affectionate tone of a mother thanking a sweet child.
• "precious child" captures both the youth ("little", "baby" context) and the highly valued, cherished nature of a "jewel."
• "shimmering personality" is too literal to the physical shining of a gem and is not a standard idiomatic way to describe a sweet child.

Therefore, "precious child" is the best fit.

Answer:

• rare feeling
• brilliant person
• precious child (Correct answer)
• shimmering personality