Question

BELLE: [To Emmaline as they walk.] Katherine didn’t come. [nervously] Do you think—do you think she went to the state capital alone? I—I—[blurting it out now] I’m so worried that she’s angry I didn’t support her ideas.
26 EMMALINE: [reassuringly] Yes, I noticed she was missing. I would hate to lose her from the League. She does have good ideas, even if they are too wild for me sometimes. I don’t think she’ll carry a grudge. You know how quickly she got over being angry with Annette last year. She was the first to support her as president of the League.
27 BELLE: We both want women to have the right to vote. We just go about working to achieve our goal differently. I don’t want to lose her friendship.
28 KATHERINE: [Entering excitedly.] Here I am! Sorry to be late—is there an extra sign?
29 EMMALINE: [Hands her a sign.] Where have you been?
30 KATHERINE: I met the train at the station. Our state senator was on it, coming home for the weekend. I talked to him about a woman’s right to vote while he waited for the porter to get his luggage. He seemed interested in our cause.
31 BELLE: [Gives Katherine a quick hug and a sign.] How exciting! I’m so proud of you, Katherine! That was a brave thing to do.
32 KATHERINE: Well, we didn’t go to the capital, but the capital came to us!
33 [The women laugh and continue marching. The lights fade, leaving just one spotlight on Katherine, upstage left.]
34 KATHERINE: And so ends our little local protest. How brave they are, my friends in the league: brave, smart, funny, and all very dear to me. I love them all—but alas, I am not sure they see the big picture. If we want to change things nationally, we need to act on a large scale. [She begins pacing the stage.] Sadly, that’s exactly the reason there is no way to act alone. My conversation with our senator was wonderful—but I doubt women will have the right to vote any time soon. It’s likelier that people will fly to the moon or that a woman will serve as a soldier!
Reread paragraphs 25 and 26 of the selection. How does the dialogue in these lines most clearly contribute to the development of the drama?
A. It reveals additional information about Belle's hopes and goals. It also reinforces that Belle is impatient and that she often complains to Emmaline, who is more assured.
B. It provides historical background about women’s struggle for the vote. It also reinforces that Belle is fearful and that she depends on the actions of Emmaline, who is more assured.
C. It builds tension into the scene by revealing the concern about Katherine’s absence. It also reinforces that Belle depends on the advice of Emmaline, who is more assured.
D. It creates the conflict in the scene by revealing that Katherine is quick to anger. It also reinforces that Belle is nosy and that she often gossips to Emmaline, who is more reserved.

Answer 1

C. The exchange raises worry about Katherine’s absence (creating tension) and shows Belle looking to Emmaline for reassurance, portraying Emmaline as the calmer, more assured friend.