Question

There were papers on the desk, a litter of papers scrawled over, in the careless writing of indifferent students, with the symbols of chemistry and long mathematical computations. The man at the desk pushed them aside to rest his lean, lined face on one thin hand. The other arm, ending at the wrist, was on the desk before him.
Students of the great university had long since ceased to speculate about the missing hand, which they knew to be the result of an experiment that had gone wrong several years ago, ancient history to those who came and went through Professor Eddinger's class room.
And now Professor Eddinger was weary—weary and old, he told himself—as he closed his eyes to shut out the sight of the interminable papers and the stubby wrist that had ended forever his experiments and the delicate manipulations which only he could do.
He reached slowly for a buzzing phone, but his eyes brightened at the voice that came to him.
"I've got it—I've got it!" The words were almost incoherent. "This is Avery, Professor—Avery! You must come at once. You will share in it, I owe it all to you . . . you will be the first to see . . . I am sending a taxi for you—"
Professor Eddinger's tired eyes crinkled to a smile. Enthusiasm like this was rare among his youngsters, but Avery—with the face of a poet, a dreamer's eyes and the mind of a scientist—good boy, Avery!—a long time since he had seen him—had him in his own laboratory for two years . . . .
"What is this all about?" asked the professor.
"No—no!" said a voice; "I can't tell you—it is too big—greater than the induction motor—greater than the electric light—it is the greatest thing in the world. The taxi should be there now—you must come—"
A knock at the office door where a voice said, "Car for Professor Eddinger," confirmed the excited words.
"I'll come right away," said Eddinger.

18
Select the correct answer from the drop-down menu.
Complete the sentence.
Through the description, "Professor Eddinger's tired eyes crinkled to a smile" the author is trying to convey that

Answer 1

the professor was momentarily cheered and intrigued—Avery's excitement revived a brief spark of interest and pleasure in him.