Question

At the beginning of “There Will Come Soft Rains,” the stove prepares eight pieces of toast, eight eggs, sixteen slices of bacon, two coffees, and two glasses of milk. What can you conclude is most likely to be true about the McClellan family, based on this information and other details?
A. The family is having guests over for breakfast.
B. Two of the family members are allergic to milk.
C. The stove usually burns the toast and undercooks the eggs.
D. There are four family members, and two of them are children.

Answer 1

D. There are four family members, and two of them are children.

Reason: The house prepares eight pieces of toast, eight eggs, and sixteen slices of bacon—consistent with four people each having two slices of toast, two eggs, and four slices of bacon. It also makes two coffees and two glasses of milk, implying two adults (coffee) and two children (milk). Other story details (e.g., the house’s routine and the family silhouettes) support the inference of a four-person family with two children.