Mati skidded into the door and jabbed a combination into the keypad. The door stubbornly remained locked. Mati pounded it with his fist. He couldn’t fathom how his calculations could be wrong. He snatched the paper from his pocket and frantically checked his math. The clock over the escape room door continued to tick mockingly closer to zero.

Question

How does the word stubbornly and mockingly impact the paragraph's overall meaning?
1. Suggests Matti is under a lot of pressure.
2. They give the impression that Matti thinks of room as an adversary.
3. They suggest that Matti is being paranoid about this situation.
4. They give the impression that Matti has been careless.

Answer 1

The words "stubbornly" and "mockingly" in the paragraph contribute to the overall meaning by enhancing the perception of Mati's struggle against the escape room. Specifically, they emphasize that Mati perceives the room as an adversary; the door's refusal to open is described as "stubborn," implying it is resisting his efforts. Additionally, the clock "mockingly" ticking down suggests a sense of taunting, heightening the tension and pressure Mati feels as he races against time.

Therefore, the best answer is:

2. They give the impression that Mati thinks of the room as an adversary.