Question

question 5 of 10
read this passage from \the black cat\:

this hideous murder accomplished, i set myself forthwith,
and with entire deliberation, to the task of concealing the
body. i knew that i could not remove it from the house,
either by day or by night, without the risk of being observed
by the neighbors. many projects entered my mind.
what can the reader infer about the narrator from the
businesslike tone of this passage?

a. that he is a good person caught up in a bad situation
b. that he is a clever and highly intelligent man
c. that he can set aside his emotions and get the job done
d. that he is without morals and possibly insane

Explanation:

The narrator has just committed a "hideous murder" and is now coldly and methodically planning to conceal the body. A "businesslike tone" implies a lack of emotional response (like remorse) to the heinous act. This shows a disregard for moral values (murder is immoral) and a possible detachment from normal emotional and moral responses (which could be seen as a sign of insanity or a severely warped mental state).

• Option A: A "good person" would likely show more moral conflict or remorse, not a business - like approach to covering up a murder.
• Option B: While being clever could be part of planning to hide the body, the key here is the lack of moral response, not just intelligence.
• Option C: Setting aside emotions is part of it, but the more fundamental aspect is the lack of moral compunction about the murder itself.

Answer:

D. That he is without morals and possibly insane