by Helen Keller
1
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.
2
Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I asked a friend, who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, what she had observed. “Nothing in particular,” she replied.
3
How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry1 of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.
4
At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. And I have imagined what I should most like to see if I were given the use of my eyes, say, for just three days.
5
On the first day, I should want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living. I do not know what it is to see into the heart of a friend through that “window of the soul,” the eye. I can only “see” through my fingertips the outline of a face. I can detect laughter, sorrow, and many other emotions. I know my friends from the feel of their faces.
6
How much easier, how much more satisfying it is for you who can see to grasp quickly the essential qualities of another person by watching the subtleties of expression, the quiver of a muscle, the flutter of a hand. But does it ever occur to you to use your sight to see into the inner nature of a friend? Do not most of you seeing people grasp casually the outward features of a face and let it go at that?
7
For instance, can you describe accurately the faces of five good friends? As an experiment, I have questioned husbands about the color of their wives’ eyes, and often they express embarrassed confusion and admit that they do not know.
Which idea about sight did Helen Keller express in this passage?
Responses
The inward nature of people is often overlooked.
The inward nature of people is often overlooked.
The mere touch of humans is often misunderstood.
The mere touch of humans is often misunderstood.
The initial signs of spring are first noticed in trees and birds.
The initial signs of spring are first noticed in trees and birds.
The outward features of a face and hands are important to recognize.
The outward features of a face and hands are important to recognize.
11 answers
The idea about sight that Helen Keller expresses in this passage is: The inward nature of people is often overlooked.
Keller highlights how seeing individuals tend to focus on outward appearances and may not take the time to understand or appreciate the deeper emotional and inner qualities of others, suggesting that they often miss the essence of a person's character which can be perceived beyond mere physical features.
Because Helen Keller could interpret only what she could touch, what would be unavailable to her is: stars in the sky.
While she could touch and interpret textures like facial features or the soft fur of a kitten, and she could read books written in Braille (which is a tactile form of reading), the stars in the sky would be inaccessible to her since they cannot be touched or physically interacted with.
In “Three Days to See,” what Helen Keller appreciates most about her life is: kind friends and companions.
Throughout the passage, she expresses a deep longing to see the people who have contributed to her life, emphasizing the importance of their kindness and companionship. This appreciation for the connections she has with others stands out as a central theme in her reflections.
The sentence that best explains why the author makes the statement is: People do not take the time to appreciate their surroundings.
Helen Keller suggests that experiencing blindness and deafness, even temporarily, would help individuals recognize and appreciate the sensory experiences and beauty they often take for granted in their everyday lives.
The author’s heart cries out because she wishes she could see everything in her surroundings.
Helen Keller expresses a deep longing to visually experience the beauty that she can only imagine, indicating her desire to perceive the world through sight.
The sentence from the passage that best supports the idea that Helen Keller had many friends is: On the first day, I should want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living.
This sentence directly indicates her appreciation for the friends in her life and highlights the importance of their kindness and companionship.
