Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was.

Question

—The Story of My Life,
Helen Keller

Based on the passage, how does Helen Keller feel about her education? Check all that apply.

It made her feel lost.
It helped her understand ships.
It gave her knowledge.
It made her anxious.
It gave her direction.

Answer 1

Based on the passage, Helen Keller feels the following about her education:

• It made her feel lost. (She compares her state before education to a ship groping in fog with no compass or way to know how near the harbor is.)
• It gave her knowledge. (The overall implication of her education is that it provides knowledge and understanding.)
• It made her anxious. (She mentions waiting with a beating heart for something to happen, indicating anxiety.)
• It gave her direction. (Her comparison suggests that education provides the direction she lacked before.)

So, the correct answers are:

• It made her feel lost.
• It gave her knowledge.
• It made her anxious.
• It gave her direction.

Note: The statement about it helping her understand ships is not supported by the passage.