Reading Passage: "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin (Excerpt)

Question

Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible 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. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.

There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.

Question 1
1. What evidence in the text suggests that Mrs. Mallard did not react as others expected her to when hearing of her husband's death?(1 point)
Responses

"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment."
"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment."

"It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences."
"It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences."

"She would have no one follow her."
"She would have no one follow her."

"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."
"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."
Question 2
2. How does the author convey the importance of delivering the news carefully to Mrs. Mallard?(1 point)
Responses

By stating, "great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible."
By stating, "great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible."

By showing Mrs. Mallard’s immediate reaction of crying.
By showing Mrs. Mallard’s immediate reaction of crying.

By describing how her sister Josephine told her the news.
By describing how her sister Josephine told her the news.

By mentioning the newspaper office where the news was received.
By mentioning the newspaper office where the news was received.
Question 3
3. What can be inferred about Mrs. Mallard's initial reaction to her husband's death from the phrase, "the storm of grief had spent itself"?(1 point)
Responses

She was deeply sorrowful.
She was deeply sorrowful.

She was angry at her husband.
She was angry at her husband.

She felt relieved.
She felt relieved.

She was indifferent.
She was indifferent.
Question 4
4. What textual evidence suggests that Mrs. Mallard needed to be by herself after hearing the news?(1 point)
Responses

"She went away to her room alone."
"She went away to her room alone."

"Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion."
"Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion."

"Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her."
"Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her."

"Josephine told her, in broken sentences."
"Josephine told her, in broken sentences."
Question 5
5. Which of the following best describes the setting where Mrs. Mallard reflects on the news?(1 point)
Responses

A small, confined space
A small, confined space

A comfortable, roomy armchair by an open window
A comfortable, roomy armchair by an open window

A busy, noisy room
A busy, noisy room

A dark, gloomy hallway
A dark, gloomy hallway
Question 6
6. How does the text indicate that Mrs. Mallard is physically affected by the news of her husband's death?(1 point)
Responses

"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment."
"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment."

"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."
"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."

"Pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body."
"Pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body."

"It was her sister Josephine who told her."
"It was her sister Josephine who told her."
Question 7
7. What phrase indicates that Mrs. Mallard’s reaction was unique compared to other women?(1 point)
Responses

"She wept at once."
"She wept at once."

"She would have no one follow her."
"She would have no one follow her."

"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."
"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."

"Great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible."
"Great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible."
Question 8
8. What does the text suggest about the relationship between Mrs. Mallard and her husband?(1 point)
Responses

It was marked by deep love and affection.
It was marked by deep love and affection.

It was one of distance and detachment.
It was one of distance and detachment.

It was characterized by frequent conflict.
It was characterized by frequent conflict.

It was a typical marriage with mutual respect.
It was a typical marriage with mutual respect.
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Answer 1

Here are the answers based on the provided excerpt from "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin:

Question 1

1. What evidence in the text suggests that Mrs. Mallard did not react as others expected her to when hearing of her husband's death?
   Response: "She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."

Question 2
2. How does the author convey the importance of delivering the news carefully to Mrs. Mallard?
Response: By stating, "great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible."

Question 3
3. What can be inferred about Mrs. Mallard's initial reaction to her husband's death from the phrase, "the storm of grief had spent itself"?
Response: She was deeply sorrowful.

Question 4
4. What textual evidence suggests that Mrs. Mallard needed to be by herself after hearing the news?
Response: "She went away to her room alone."

Question 5
5. Which of the following best describes the setting where Mrs. Mallard reflects on the news?
Response: A comfortable, roomy armchair by an open window.

Question 6
6. How does the text indicate that Mrs. Mallard is physically affected by the news of her husband's death?
Response: "Pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body."

Question 7
7. What phrase indicates that Mrs. Mallard’s reaction was unique compared to other women?
Response: "She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same."

Question 8
8. What does the text suggest about the relationship between Mrs. Mallard and her husband?
Response: It was one of distance and detachment.

Feel free to ask if you have more questions or need further elaboration on any of the answers!