Read the following text from a play. This excerpt is about Helen Keller.

Question

[ANNIE . . . spells into HELEN's free palm:]
Water. W, a, t, e, r. Water. It has a—name—
And now the miracle happens. HELEN drops the pitcher on the slab under the spout, it shatters. She stands transfixed. ANNIE freezes on the pump handle: there is a change in the sundown light, and with it a change in HELEN's face, some light coming into it we have never seen there, some struggle in the depths behind it; and her lips tremble, trying to remember something the muscles around them once knew, till at last it finds its way out, painfully, a baby sound buried under the debris. . . .
HELEN: Wah. Wah.
From William Gibson, The Miracle Worker. Copyright 1957 by William Gibson
The previous text suggested that for Helen, learning the word "water" felt like triggering a memory. How does this play build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest that Helen knew the word "water before she lost her hearing.
it shows that learning language came easily to Helen from the beginning.
it illustrates how happy Helen felt when she understood the word "water"

Answer 1

The excerpt from "The Miracle Worker" suggests that learning the word "water" was a significant and transformative moment for Helen Keller. It builds on the idea that this learning experience was akin to triggering a deep, buried memory. The struggle Helen exhibits as she tries to articulate the sound of the word—her trembling lips and the emergence of a "baby sound"—indicates that this was not an easy or straightforward process for her.

Rather than implying that Helen knew the word "water" prior to her experiences or that language came easily to her, the text highlights the profound challenge she faced in connecting the concept of "water" with her understanding and expression. The moment is portrayed as a breakthrough, characterized by an intense struggle and emotional depth as light seems to come into her face, symbolizing a realization and newfound comprehension.

Therefore, it does not simply illustrate how happy Helen felt, but instead emphasizes the complexity and depth of her emotional journey in learning and communicating this fundamental concept. The moment is not just about the joy of understanding; it's about the labor and triumph of breaking through barriers to reach that understanding.