by Mark Twain
I visited St. Louis lately, and on my way West, after changing cars at Terre Haute, Indiana, a mild, benevolent-looking gentleman of about forty-five, or maybe fifty, came in at one of the way-stations and sat down beside me. We talked together pleasantly on various subjects for an hour, perhaps, and I found him exceedingly intelligent and entertaining.
"Cannibalism in the Cars" by Mark Twain
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
How does the author’s use of the multiple-meaning word mild affect the reader’s understanding of the gentleman?
(1 point)
Responses
The gentleman has a bland personality.
The gentleman has a bland personality.
The gentleman seems extreme and severe.
The gentleman seems extreme and severe.
The gentleman is noble and proper.
The gentleman is noble and proper.
The gentleman has a gentle and kind demeanor.
The gentleman has a gentle and kind demeanor.
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1 answer
The author’s use of the multiple-meaning word "mild" affects the reader’s understanding of the gentleman as someone who has a gentle and kind demeanor. This connotation suggests that the gentleman is approachable and non-threatening, enhancing the overall impression of him as a benign character in the narrative. Therefore, the correct response is:
The gentleman has a gentle and kind demeanor.
