David adjusted his backpack and continued his trek through the woods of their "back forty." His dad had acquired the property for a song, and although their house and the surrounding five acres were nice enough, David wanted to know why the back forty acres didn't seem to add that much value to the sales price. Since they were ten miles from town, he had nothing better to do. David did not share his dad's affection for the country. He didn't want to harbor ill feelings against his dad, but David longed to be back in the city where he had grown up.

Question

David adjusted his backpack and continued his trek through the woods of their "back forty." His dad had acquired the property for a song, and although their house and the surrounding five acres were nice enough, David wanted to know why the back forty acres didn't seem to add that much value to the sales price. Since they were ten miles from town, he had nothing better to do. David did not share his dad's affection for the country. He didn't want to harbor ill feelings against his dad, but David longed to be back in the city where he had grown up.
     He had been walking twenty minutes and was about to turn around when he glimpsed a color and shape that should not be in the middle of woods. He stepped into a small clearing. An abandoned carousel stood in the center of the field. David wondered how long it had been there. Hidden by tall weeds, the once dazzling attraction held no luster for anyone now. The mirrors of the carousel's ornate centerpiece were cracked reminders of happier times. Horses that once frolicked to organ music were now motionless cast iron tethered to rusted poles.
     David climbed the low fence that must have kept patrons from hitching a ride without a ticket. He mounted a horse that had been black but was now a motley pewter and smoke of flaking paint. This forsaken countryside held about as much promise for David as this broken-down carousel of forgotten childhoods. At least now he understood the devalued price of the land. Who wants an abandoned carousel overgrown by weeds and saplings?
     Looking out at the woods, David imagined what the place must have looked like when children flocked to the ride. He wondered if the amusement park stood here on their land or if the carousel was part of a traveling carnival. The town library might have some information. David had noted when they drove through town that the library was founded in 1912. Hope began to flicker as he made plans for his next adventure sitting atop his steed.

1
Read the sentence from the passage.

He didn't want to harbor ill feelings against his dad, but David longed to be back in the city where he had grown up.

Which definition best defines the author's use of the word harbor?

harbor \ˈhär-bər\
give shelter to someone or something
a body of water where ships are anchored
hide or conceal something or someone
hold in one's mind
 A. 
4
 B. 
3
 C. 
2
 D. 
1

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The best definition that defines the author's use of the word "harbor" in this context is:

hold in one's mind (A. 4)

In this sentence, "harbor" refers to David's feelings of resentment or negative emotions towards his dad, indicating that he does not want to keep or hold those feelings in his mind.