Question

8 MR. GIBSON: What a beauty! The neighbors will be lining up for rides.

9 [His neighbor Cal Martin enters from right.]

10 CAL: Say, is that yours, Mr. G?

11 MR. GIBSON: Sure is, Cal. Pretty, ain’t she?

12 CAL: Not a spot on her.

13 MR. GIBSON: Well, there shouldn’t be! Just drove her home last night. Brand new!

14 CAL: Did you have to take that hill by Miller’s Grocery backwards?

15 MR. GIBSON: [Disconcerted.] Eh—what?

16 CAL: I always do. It’s that, or push.

17 [Birdie Taylor enters from left.]

18 BIRDIE: Cal, won’t you ever be tired of looking at cars?

19 CAL: Not likely. [He stands up quickly and tips his hat.] Morning, Birdie.

20 BIRDIE: Morning, Cal. Mr. Gibson.21 MR. GIBSON: Miss Taylor.

22 BIRDIE: I don’t see what all the fuss is about.

23 MR. GIBSON: This machine can travel thirty miles in one hour. Thirty!

24 CAL: Forty if you step on the gas.

25 MR. GIBSON: Forty’s too fast for anyone, Cal. Nobody’s reflexes are fast enough.

26 CAL: Mine aren’t so bad.

27 MR. GIBSON: Still, thirty’s not too shabby. One mile in two minutes! That’s the fuss, Miss Taylor. Think of the time we can save! This machine is going to change the way all of us get around. Well, not all of us at first, of course.

28 BIRDIE: [Pressing on a seat cushion.] I see they haven’t improved the padding.

29 MR. GIBSON: Improved? It’s brand new.

30 BIRDIE: You’ll get an awful jostling over twenty-five miles per hour. I always do.

31 MR. GIBSON: You? Surely you’re not driving, Birdie. A young woman should—

32 BIRDIE: Cal lets me take the wheel on back roads. I think I’m a better driver than he is.

33 MR. GIBSON: Cal! You don’t mean . . .?

34 CAL: I’ve got a flivver1 just like yours, Mr. G.

35 MR. GIBSON: Well, that’s interesting. Did your father buy it for you?

36 CAL: Bought it myself, out of my wages from clerking last summer.

37 [Lizzie Banks enters pushing a baby carriage.]

38 MR. GIBSON: Morning, Lizzie. Notice anything different?

39 LIZZIE: Your azaleas are blooming already! Mine haven’t even begun to bud.

40 CAL: He meant the car.In paragraph 15 of Passage 2, what does Mr. Gibson reveal about himself when he says “Eh—what?” in reply to Cal?
A. He is confident that he is a much better driver than Cal.
B. He believes that Cal was spying on him on his way home last night.
C. He suspects that Cal is an irresponsible driver who likes to show off.
D. He is confused when Cal appears to know more about driving than he does.

Answer 1

D. The stage direction “[Disconcerted.]” and Gibson’s surprised reply show he’s confused by Cal’s apparent familiarity with driving details, not that he’s boasting, accusing, or spying.