Question

select the correct answer.

read this excerpt from the passage:

26 \oh, my poor mathilde! how you are changed!\
27 \yes, i have had a pretty hard life, since i last saw you, and great poverty-and that because of you!\
28 \of me! how so?\
29 \do you remember that diamond necklace you lent me to wear at the ministerial ball?\
30 \yes. well?\
31 \well, i lost it.\
32 \what do you mean? you brought it back.\
33 \i brought you back another exactly like it. and it has taken us ten years to pay for it. you can understand that it was not easy for us, for us who had nothing. at last it is ended, and i am very glad.\
34 madame forestier had stopped.

how does the author use pacing to affect tension in this excerpt?

• the author slows down the pace to build tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.
• the author slows down the pace to ease tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.
• the author speeds up the pace to build tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.
• the author speeds up the pace to ease tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.

Explanation:

Analyze the dialogue structure and pacing

The excerpt consists of rapid, short exchanges of dialogue between Mathilde and Madame Forestier (paragraphs 26–32). This rapid back-and-forth dialogue speeds up the pace of the narrative.

Evaluate the effect on tension

The quick exchanges lead up to the dramatic revelation in paragraph 31 ("Well, I lost it.") and the immediate shock in paragraph 32 ("What do you mean? You brought it back."). This fast pacing rapidly builds dramatic tension between the two characters as the truth about the lost necklace is finally revealed.

Match with the correct option

The analysis shows that the author speeds up the pace to build tension. This directly corresponds to the third option.

Answer:

• The author slows down the pace to build tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.
• The author slows down the pace to ease tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.
• The author speeds up the pace to build tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace. (Correct answer)
• The author speeds up the pace to ease tension between the two women as they discuss the lost necklace.