Question

1. in paragraph 1, how does the phrase \sunlight peeped in like the foremost spies\ affect the tone of the excerpt?

a. it creates the martial tone that runs through mrs. hignetts first-person narration.
b. it sets the dry, humorous tone of the third-person narration.
c. it establishes the sullen tone of mrs. hignetts first-person perspective.
d. it introduces the factual tone of the third-person narration.

1. read these sentences from paragraph 1.

the hands of the dutch clock in the hall pointed to thirteen minutes past nine; those of the ormolu clock in the sitting-room to eleven minutes past ten; those of the carriage clock on the bookshelf to fourteen minutes to six. in other words, it was exactly eight; and mrs. hignett... always woke at eight precisely.

how do these sentences contribute to the development of mrs. hignetts character?
a. they show that mrs. hignett is rooming with other people working on different schedules.
b. they show that mrs. hignett needs repeated reminders by multiple alarm clocks to wake up.
c. they illustrate mrs. hignetts homesickness, as the clocks are still set to her native time zone.
d. they illustrate mrs. hignetts willpower, as she does not need clocks to wake on schedule.

1. read these sentences from paragraph 2.

was this mrs. hignett the mrs. hignett, the world-famous writer on theosophy, the author of \the spreading light,\ \what of the morrow,\ and all the rest of that well-known series? im glad you asked me. yes, she was.

how do these sentences affect the tone of the excerpt?
a. they create a formal, ponderous impression of the lecture circuits role in american culture.
b. they establish the informal, chatty nature of the narrator when relaying the story.
c. they suggest that the narration will be an erudite, professional overview of famous writers.
d. they introduce a serious and deep author of profound philosophical books.

1. which of the following best explains why so many english lecturers were coming to the united states in 1921?

a. the history of the middle ages was a topic of interest to americans.
b. americans needed a great deal of education on numerous topics.
c. there were no americans who spoke on lecture tours.
d. americans were willing to pay money to attend lectures.

Explanation:

Analyze Question 1

Using the Tone Identification knowledge point, we analyze the phrase "sunlight peeped in like the foremost spies of a invading army" (partially visible/reconstructed context) and its effect on tone. The narrator's dry, humorous style is established by describing mundane morning light with dramatic, military-like imagery, which highlights the third-person narrator's dry, humorous perspective.

Analyze Question 2

Using the Character Analysis knowledge point, we examine the description of the clocks. The text states the clocks point to different times (thirteen minutes past nine, eleven minutes past ten, fourteen minutes to six), yet Mrs. Hignett always wakes up precisely at eight. This shows she does not rely on these inaccurate clocks, illustrating her strong willpower and internal discipline.

Analyze Question 3

Using the Tone Identification knowledge point, we evaluate the narrator's direct address: "I'm glad you asked me. Yes, she was." This conversational, self-referential style establishes an informal, chatty relationship between the narrator and the reader.

Analyze Question 4

We analyze the historical context of English lecturers visiting the United States in 1921. The primary motivation for foreign lecturers touring America during this era was financial, as American audiences were highly willing to pay money to attend these intellectual lectures.

Answer:

Question 1

• (A) It creates the martial tone that runs through Mrs. Hignett's first-person narration.
• (B) It sets the dry, humorous tone of the third-person narration. (Correct answer)
• (C) It establishes the sullen tone of Mrs. Hignett's first-person perspective.
• (D) It introduces the factual tone of the third-person narration.

Question 2

• (A) They show that Mrs. Hignett is rooming with other people working on different schedules.
• (B) They show that Mrs. Hignett needs repeated reminders by multiple alarm clocks to wake up.
• (C) They illustrate Mrs. Hignett's homesickness, as the clocks are still set to her native time zone.
• (D) They illustrate Mrs. Hignett's willpower, as she does not need clocks to wake on schedule. (Correct answer)

Question 3

• (A) They create a formal, ponderous impression of the lecture circuit's role in American culture.
• (B) They establish the informal, chatty nature of the narrator when relaying the story. (Correct answer)
• (C) They suggest that the narration will be an erudite, professional overview of famous writers.
• (D) They introduce a serious and deep author of profound philosophical books.

Question 4

• (A) The history of the Middle Ages was a topic of interest to Americans.
• (B) Americans needed a great deal of education on numerous topics.
• (C) There were no Americans who spoke on lecture tours.
• (D) Americans were willing to pay money to attend lectures. (Correct answer)