Question
Read the excerpt from "The Story of an Hour."
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.
Which universal theme is expressed in the excerpt?
Romantic relationships are a burden rather than a blessing.
Women are suppressed by the men they marry.
Marriage is usually about business rather than true love.
Arranged marriages will leave both partners unfulfilled.
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.
Which universal theme is expressed in the excerpt?
Romantic relationships are a burden rather than a blessing.
Women are suppressed by the men they marry.
Marriage is usually about business rather than true love.
Arranged marriages will leave both partners unfulfilled.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The universal theme expressed in the excerpt is that **women are suppressed by the men they marry.** The excerpt highlights the idea of a woman gaining a sense of liberation and autonomy from the constraints imposed by her marriage, suggesting that the dynamics of traditional relationships often involve a "powerful will" exerted by men over women.
Read the excerpt from "The Story of an Hour."
“Go away. I am not making myself ill.” No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.
Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own.
Which is the correct definition of the word “elixir” based on its usage in the excerpt?
sweet medicine
bitter medicine
tasteless medicine
colorless medicine
“Go away. I am not making myself ill.” No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.
Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own.
Which is the correct definition of the word “elixir” based on its usage in the excerpt?
sweet medicine
bitter medicine
tasteless medicine
colorless medicine
GPT-4o mini
Based on its usage in the excerpt, the correct definition of the word “elixir” is **sweet medicine.** In this context, "elixir of life" suggests something that brings vitality, joy, and renewal, akin to a sweet or beneficial substance that enhances one's well-being.
Which excerpt from "The Story of an Hour" best indicates that Mrs. Mallard may not be grieving about her husband’s sudden death?
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.
When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.
Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her.
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.
When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.
Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her.
GPT-4o mini
The excerpt that best indicates that Mrs. Mallard may not be grieving about her husband’s sudden death is: **“She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.”** This suggests that her reaction is different from the typical response expected from women in similar situations, implying that her feelings may not align with conventional grief.
Read the excerpt from "The Story of an Hour."
When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!” The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
Which words best establish a mood of relief in the excerpt?
“slightly,” “vacant,” “eyes,” and “beat”
“whispered,” “stare,” “terror,” and “pulses”
“lips,” “stayed,” “keen,” and “blood”
“escaped,” “free,” “warmed,” and “relaxed”
When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!” The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
Which words best establish a mood of relief in the excerpt?
“slightly,” “vacant,” “eyes,” and “beat”
“whispered,” “stare,” “terror,” and “pulses”
“lips,” “stayed,” “keen,” and “blood”
“escaped,” “free,” “warmed,” and “relaxed”
GPT-4o mini
The words that best establish a mood of relief in the excerpt are **“escaped,” “free,” “warmed,” and “relaxed.”** These words convey a sense of liberation and comfort, indicating a release from emotional or physical constraints, which aligns with the overall mood of relief in the passage.
Read the excerpt from "The Story of an Hour."
It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message.
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.
Which best describes the narrative voice?
The author uses an omniscient narrator to reveal the thoughts and motivations of multiple characters in the story.
The author uses an omniscient narrator to reveal the details of the railroad accident taking place far away.
The author uses a character in the story as a narrator to establish the closeness between the sisters.
The author uses a character in the story as a narrator to establish Mrs. Mallard’s grief at the news of her husband’s death.
It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message.
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.
Which best describes the narrative voice?
The author uses an omniscient narrator to reveal the thoughts and motivations of multiple characters in the story.
The author uses an omniscient narrator to reveal the details of the railroad accident taking place far away.
The author uses a character in the story as a narrator to establish the closeness between the sisters.
The author uses a character in the story as a narrator to establish Mrs. Mallard’s grief at the news of her husband’s death.
GPT-4o mini
The best description of the narrative voice in the excerpt is: **The author uses an omniscient narrator to reveal the thoughts and motivations of multiple characters in the story.** The narrator provides insight into the actions and emotional state of characters like Josephine and Richards, as well as hints at Mrs. Mallard's unique response to the news of her husband's death.
Read the excerpt from "The Story of the Hour."
There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color of the air.
Which best states the literal meaning of the excerpt?
A thought and a feeling that she could not yet name were just outside of her awareness.
Something that she was not yet able to identify was approaching from the direction of the sky.
A strange creature was coming toward her slowly and reaching out to take hold of her.
The dark gloom and creepy sounds of her surroundings created a feeling of terror inside her.
There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color of the air.
Which best states the literal meaning of the excerpt?
A thought and a feeling that she could not yet name were just outside of her awareness.
Something that she was not yet able to identify was approaching from the direction of the sky.
A strange creature was coming toward her slowly and reaching out to take hold of her.
The dark gloom and creepy sounds of her surroundings created a feeling of terror inside her.
GPT-4o mini
The statement that best states the literal meaning of the excerpt is: **A thought and a feeling that she could not yet name were just outside of her awareness.** This accurately captures the essence of the excerpt, where the character senses something significant approaching, but is unable to identify or articulate it.