Question

1 CLARISSA:
Mary, what are you going to do with those crumbs which you hold in your hand?
2 MARY: I am going to feed my snow-birds with them, and I should be very happy to have you go with me. I know you will enjoy seeing how merrily they hop about and flutter their wings, and seem to chirp out their thanks as they pick up the food I throw them.
3 CLARISSA: Thank you for your invitation; but I beg you will excuse me; it may be pretty sport for you, but, for my part, I can enjoy myself much better to stay here and arrange my... things, for I expect some [friends] to see me this afternoon. I cannot conceive what there is in those ugly-looking snow-birds to interest you; they are not handsome, surely; they have not a single bright feather, and, as for their songs, they sound like the squeak of a sick chicken.
4 MARY: I am sorry to hear you speak so of my favorites; for, though they are not so brilliant in their colors as many that flutter around us in the summer, yet to me they [are] dearer than any others, and far more beautiful than those of a gaudier hue. 5 CLARISSA: Well, you have [unusual] taste, I must confess, you
remind me of the philosopher I read of in the story-book, who thought a toad the most beautiful of creatures. Come, perhaps you can show me why they are entitled to your regard, and point out their beauties.
6
MARY: I will cheerfully comply with your request, for nothing gives me more pleasure than to speak of the good qualities of my friends. Examine them for a moment and see how exquisitely they are formed, and, though not gaudy in their colors, yet their feathers are soft and glossy. But these are trifles comparatively; what most endears them to me is their constancy.
7
CLARISSA: That is a new idea, indeed. Constancy in snow-birds! Please explain yourself, Mary.
8 MARY: Well, they seem to me like those rare friends that love us best in adversity,¹ when the bright summer of prosperity, 2 with its attendant joys, has fled, and the winter of sorrow and misfortune shuts out, with its dark clouds, the light of life, and withers, with its frosts, the few flowers which bloom along its pathway. There are summer friends, Clara, as well as summer birds, and they both wear brilliant colors, and sing enchanting songs, but they depart with the sunshine, the first leave us to battle the storms of adversity, and the others, the cold and barren prospect of winter; these little snow-birds, however, remain, and through all its dark hours they cheer us by their presence. What causes Clarissa to change her mind about going with Mary to feed the snow-birds?
O Clarissa is curious to see why Mary favors such ordinary birds.
Clarissa is hopeful that Mary will help her prepare for the visit.
Clarissa feels bad about excluding Mary from the visit with her friends.
O Clarissa realizes that Mary has a lot of wisdom about the natural world.
Part b
Click the underlined phrase in the passage text below that best supports the answer to Part A.
3 CLARISSA: Thank you for your invitation; but I beg you will excuse me;
it may be pretty sport for you, but, for my part, I can enjoy myself much better to stay here and arrange my things, for I expect some [friends] to see me this afternoon. I cannot conceive what there is in those ugly-looking snow-birds to interest you; they are not handsome, surely, they have not a single bright feather, and, as for their songs, they sound like the squeak of a sick chicken.
4
MARY: I am sorry to hear you speak so of my favorites, for, though they are not so brilliant in their colors as many that flutter around us in the summer, yet to me they [are] dearer than any others, and far more beautiful than those of a gaudier hue.
5
CLARISSA: Well, you have [unusual] taste, I must confess; you remind me of the philosopher I read of in the story-book, who thought a toad the most beautiful of. creatures. Come, perhaps you can show me why they are entitled to your regard, and point out their beauties.

Answer 1

Part A: Clarissa is curious to see why Mary favors such ordinary birds.

Part B: The supporting phrase is: "Come, perhaps you can show me why they are entitled to your regard, and point out their beauties." (line 5)