The diner finished up a row of buildings, all deserted, along Main Street. Prosperity, having already come by for a visit to town, had sometime long ago packed up and left. Somewhere, in the zoo of decrepit brownstone husks, rats crawled around on their bellies, speaking in the twisted rat tongue of ever-present gnawing and, occasionally, the high-pitched crescendo of alarm at the smell of a passing predator. In this kingdom of dark futures, melancholy reigned king.

Question

At the end of the line, in the light spilling like Christmas morning from Frankie’s Diner, the ruined city and its aftermath of hopelessness could find no purchase. Frankie’s warmed the lost underbelly like a griddle full of flapjacks. Chattering, risen voices steamed the windows inside and denied the patrons their views of the beleaguered cityscape. There, local or out-of-towner alike might find a hot cup of coffee, a plate of hash, eggs-over-easy, and Frankie at the grill, flipping burgers and calling out orders. The wholesomeness reminded everyone that we all return to a state of grace, even if we have to find it in a greasy spoon.
5
How does the setting help to create the mood of the story?
A.
The desolation of the surroundings makes the diner seem more warm and cheerful.
B.
The warmth of Frankie's Diner makes the reader want to go change the world.
C.
The diner is warm because it has electricity, and the gloomy buildings do not.
D.
The gloom of the city overpowers any happiness that might come from the diner.

Answer 1

A. The desolation of the surroundings makes the diner seem more warm and cheerful.

This option best captures how the contrast between the bleak, deserted city and the inviting atmosphere of Frankie’s Diner creates a warmer and more cheerful mood within the diner, emphasizing the significance of finding comfort and joy even in despairing circumstances.