Question
The library’s auditorium was packed with people occupying every seat and some even standing. Toni, the research librarian, had never seen so many guests show up for a program. And it was all because Muriel Gold was coming to speak about her experiences during the Holocaust. Raised in Nazi Germany in a Jewish family, Muriel had a powerful story to share.
Toni noticed Muriel sipping a cup of tea in the corner of the room. The elderly lady appeared nervous and withdrawn, as though she didn’t want to be there. Toni could only imagine how challenging and emotional it would be for Muriel to speak.
“Mrs. Gold, you’ve drawn a great audience today. Everyone is eager to learn from you,” Toni said warmly, patting the lady on the shoulder.
“Thank you,” Muriel answered with the slightest German accent.
“I’ll introduce you, and then we’ll turn the floor over to you,” Toni said, walking over to the microphone.
Muriel listened as Toni praised her bravery for coming to talk to the audience about surviving World War II. But Muriel didn’t feel brave. She felt panicked about speaking in front of a crowd in English. Worse, she was afraid people would find her story too depressing and become bored or simply walk out.
The audience clapped as Muriel Gold walked to the podium and spoke softly into the microphone.
She took a deep breath and told her story.
“My family and I were hiding at a Christian friend’s house, so the Nazis wouldn’t find us. I was just eleven years old, and I didn’t truly understand what was happening.” Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.
But she continued: “For a few months, we were successful, and it seemed like we were safe. Life was almost normal, except for the fact that we couldn’t go outside. Then, one day, it happened . . .” Her voice cracked like a shattered egg. “The Nazi police found us. I hid in the basement, but my parents and older brothers couldn’t make it there in time. They were arrested. I never saw them again after that day, but even now I can picture their faces in my mind and hear their voices.” Muriel concluded her speech and looked closely at the audience.
Nobody had walked out. The auditorium was just as crowded as it had been before she spoke. Muriel exhaled a giant breath, relieved to have finally released her story from its lock.
“Thank you for sharing, Mrs. Gold,” Toni said.
“Thank you for asking me to share. I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. And I feel I have brought people together.”
Muriel buttoned up her wool coat and stepped out into the cold winter day, feeling warm from the support of those around her.
Questions
Which detail shows that at first, Muriel did not want to share her story in front of an audience?
“Muriel concluded her speech and looked closely at the audience.”
“Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.”
“Muriel exhaled a giant breath, relieved to have finally released her story from its lock.”
“The audience clapped as Muriel Gold walked to the podium and spoke softly
Toni noticed Muriel sipping a cup of tea in the corner of the room. The elderly lady appeared nervous and withdrawn, as though she didn’t want to be there. Toni could only imagine how challenging and emotional it would be for Muriel to speak.
“Mrs. Gold, you’ve drawn a great audience today. Everyone is eager to learn from you,” Toni said warmly, patting the lady on the shoulder.
“Thank you,” Muriel answered with the slightest German accent.
“I’ll introduce you, and then we’ll turn the floor over to you,” Toni said, walking over to the microphone.
Muriel listened as Toni praised her bravery for coming to talk to the audience about surviving World War II. But Muriel didn’t feel brave. She felt panicked about speaking in front of a crowd in English. Worse, she was afraid people would find her story too depressing and become bored or simply walk out.
The audience clapped as Muriel Gold walked to the podium and spoke softly into the microphone.
She took a deep breath and told her story.
“My family and I were hiding at a Christian friend’s house, so the Nazis wouldn’t find us. I was just eleven years old, and I didn’t truly understand what was happening.” Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.
But she continued: “For a few months, we were successful, and it seemed like we were safe. Life was almost normal, except for the fact that we couldn’t go outside. Then, one day, it happened . . .” Her voice cracked like a shattered egg. “The Nazi police found us. I hid in the basement, but my parents and older brothers couldn’t make it there in time. They were arrested. I never saw them again after that day, but even now I can picture their faces in my mind and hear their voices.” Muriel concluded her speech and looked closely at the audience.
Nobody had walked out. The auditorium was just as crowded as it had been before she spoke. Muriel exhaled a giant breath, relieved to have finally released her story from its lock.
“Thank you for sharing, Mrs. Gold,” Toni said.
“Thank you for asking me to share. I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. And I feel I have brought people together.”
Muriel buttoned up her wool coat and stepped out into the cold winter day, feeling warm from the support of those around her.
Questions
Which detail shows that at first, Muriel did not want to share her story in front of an audience?
“Muriel concluded her speech and looked closely at the audience.”
“Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.”
“Muriel exhaled a giant breath, relieved to have finally released her story from its lock.”
“The audience clapped as Muriel Gold walked to the podium and spoke softly
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The detail that shows Muriel did not want to share her story in front of an audience is:
“Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.”
This detail indicates her nervousness and desire to escape the situation, suggesting that she was initially uncomfortable with the idea of speaking publicly.
“Muriel’s voice was shaking, and she wished she could have another sip of tea . . . or the keys to her car.”
This detail indicates her nervousness and desire to escape the situation, suggesting that she was initially uncomfortable with the idea of speaking publicly.
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