Question
When I was a young girl, I learned many good habits at Aunt Agatha’s place, habits that served me well later in life. For example, one of my chores was to milk the cows first thing in the morning. Missed milkings weren’t going to make either my aunt or the cows too happy. If I overslept, I still had to do the milking—and then rush off to finish my other chores, such as weeding, clearing brush around the old mill, and repairing fences. For every minute I overslept, I found, there was a minute later on when I would have to rush. It felt bad to be behind all the time. I felt better about myself once I learned to get up on time. Rising early each day stuck, and ever since, I’ve never failed to get myself out of the house on time in the morning.
2 At first, I admit, I found Aunt Agatha’s ideas about life a little harsh and unforgiving. Surely, I thought, it was OK to goof off every once in a while. Part of what I learned on the farm, though, was the difference simple geography could make in a person’s outlook. Aunt Agatha’s nearest neighbor was ten miles down the road. One blustery day, years before my arrival, she had gone out in the snow to cut some wood and had ended up cutting herself pretty bad. Aunt Agatha couldn’t just call for an ambulance or knock on a neighbor’s door for help. What saved her life was a first-aid kit and the will to push through the pain, get back inside, and use it. Stories like that made it easier to understand her outlook.
3 Aunt Agatha fed all her workers, myself included, a good breakfast, but I was on my own for lunch. One day, I went out with a crew to work on some fields a good drive away from the house. I had forgotten to pack my lunch, and although Tony and Bud shared some of theirs with me, my stomach was whining and fussing when we got home. When I told Aunt Agatha what had happened, she sniffed and said, “Those that take care of themselves get well taken care of. The rest most likely go hungry.” Still, I noticed she dished me out an extra big helping at dinner. At dessert she asked me twice if I wanted an extra slice of pie. After that, I never forgot to pack my lunch. I also began to appreciate Aunt Agatha a little more. I also began to notice that, strong and fiercely independent as she was, age was starting to affect her some. The trick was to find ways to help without challenging that independence. I knew her eyesight was growing poor, for instance, and that made keeping the accounts for the farm hard for her. I told her I had to complete a math project that summer and asked, could I enter the numbers in her accounting books? "So now I have to teach you math as well as milking?" she huffed, but she let me help.
4 My real test, though, came the week of the state fair. I had been planning to go with Tony, Bud, and some of the kids from the Pedersens’ farm. At last, I thought, a well-deserved break from our grueling routines. It was also my last real chance to say goodbye to everyone, since I was returning home at the end of the summer. The day finally arrived, and after picking up the Pedersen kids, we headed toward the highway. Suddenly, my stomach dropped. Today was the 17th, the day of the lunar eclipse. For my honors science project, I had committed to documenting seven celestial events that summer. The eclipse was the final one. If I went to the state fair, though, I wouldn’t be able to properly record it.
I also began to notice that, strong and fiercely independent as she was, age was starting to affect her some. The trick was to find ways to help without challenging that independence. I knew her eyesight was growing poor, for instance, and that made keeping the accounts for the farm hard for her. I told her I had to complete a math project that summer and asked, could I enter the numbers in her accounting books? “So now I have to teach you math as well as milking?” she huffed, but she let me help.
Which best explains the difference between a character’s point of view and the reader’s point of view in these sentences?
A. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too proud to ask for help. The narrator does not see her pride.
B. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too foolish to do math reliably. The narrator does not see her foolishness.
C. The reader sees that the narrator deceives Aunt Agatha into accepting help. Aunt Agatha does not see the deception.
D. The reader sees that the narrator deceives Aunt Agatha into teaching her math. Aunt Agatha does not see the deception.
Part B
Which is most clearly the effect on readers of the difference in point of view identified in Part A?
A. increased empathy with Aunt Agatha
B. decreased respect for Aunt Agatha
C. increased empathy with the narrator
D. decreased respect for the narrator
2 At first, I admit, I found Aunt Agatha’s ideas about life a little harsh and unforgiving. Surely, I thought, it was OK to goof off every once in a while. Part of what I learned on the farm, though, was the difference simple geography could make in a person’s outlook. Aunt Agatha’s nearest neighbor was ten miles down the road. One blustery day, years before my arrival, she had gone out in the snow to cut some wood and had ended up cutting herself pretty bad. Aunt Agatha couldn’t just call for an ambulance or knock on a neighbor’s door for help. What saved her life was a first-aid kit and the will to push through the pain, get back inside, and use it. Stories like that made it easier to understand her outlook.
3 Aunt Agatha fed all her workers, myself included, a good breakfast, but I was on my own for lunch. One day, I went out with a crew to work on some fields a good drive away from the house. I had forgotten to pack my lunch, and although Tony and Bud shared some of theirs with me, my stomach was whining and fussing when we got home. When I told Aunt Agatha what had happened, she sniffed and said, “Those that take care of themselves get well taken care of. The rest most likely go hungry.” Still, I noticed she dished me out an extra big helping at dinner. At dessert she asked me twice if I wanted an extra slice of pie. After that, I never forgot to pack my lunch. I also began to appreciate Aunt Agatha a little more. I also began to notice that, strong and fiercely independent as she was, age was starting to affect her some. The trick was to find ways to help without challenging that independence. I knew her eyesight was growing poor, for instance, and that made keeping the accounts for the farm hard for her. I told her I had to complete a math project that summer and asked, could I enter the numbers in her accounting books? "So now I have to teach you math as well as milking?" she huffed, but she let me help.
4 My real test, though, came the week of the state fair. I had been planning to go with Tony, Bud, and some of the kids from the Pedersens’ farm. At last, I thought, a well-deserved break from our grueling routines. It was also my last real chance to say goodbye to everyone, since I was returning home at the end of the summer. The day finally arrived, and after picking up the Pedersen kids, we headed toward the highway. Suddenly, my stomach dropped. Today was the 17th, the day of the lunar eclipse. For my honors science project, I had committed to documenting seven celestial events that summer. The eclipse was the final one. If I went to the state fair, though, I wouldn’t be able to properly record it.
I also began to notice that, strong and fiercely independent as she was, age was starting to affect her some. The trick was to find ways to help without challenging that independence. I knew her eyesight was growing poor, for instance, and that made keeping the accounts for the farm hard for her. I told her I had to complete a math project that summer and asked, could I enter the numbers in her accounting books? “So now I have to teach you math as well as milking?” she huffed, but she let me help.
Which best explains the difference between a character’s point of view and the reader’s point of view in these sentences?
A. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too proud to ask for help. The narrator does not see her pride.
B. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too foolish to do math reliably. The narrator does not see her foolishness.
C. The reader sees that the narrator deceives Aunt Agatha into accepting help. Aunt Agatha does not see the deception.
D. The reader sees that the narrator deceives Aunt Agatha into teaching her math. Aunt Agatha does not see the deception.
Part B
Which is most clearly the effect on readers of the difference in point of view identified in Part A?
A. increased empathy with Aunt Agatha
B. decreased respect for Aunt Agatha
C. increased empathy with the narrator
D. decreased respect for the narrator
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Part A:** The best option that explains the difference between a character’s point of view (Aunt Agatha's) and the reader’s point of view (the narrator’s perspective) is:
**A. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too proud to ask for help. The narrator does not see her pride.**
In the text, Aunt Agatha's independence and reluctance to ask for help due to her pride is evident to the reader, while the narrator is focused on helping without challenging that independence.
**Part B:** The effect on readers of the difference in point of view identified in Part A is:
**A. increased empathy with Aunt Agatha.**
Readers gain a deeper understanding of Aunt Agatha's character and the struggle between her pride and her need for assistance as she ages, which fosters empathy towards her situation.
**A. The reader sees that Aunt Agatha is too proud to ask for help. The narrator does not see her pride.**
In the text, Aunt Agatha's independence and reluctance to ask for help due to her pride is evident to the reader, while the narrator is focused on helping without challenging that independence.
**Part B:** The effect on readers of the difference in point of view identified in Part A is:
**A. increased empathy with Aunt Agatha.**
Readers gain a deeper understanding of Aunt Agatha's character and the struggle between her pride and her need for assistance as she ages, which fosters empathy towards her situation.