that follow.
(1) [Setting: A pioneer kitchen in the 1820s. Mother is kneading bread dough while two children
play on the floor by the fire. A baby is in a cradle.]
(2) [John comes bursting into the room from outside and slams the door behind him.]
(3) John: Oh, Mother, Father has been hurt! A log fell on his leg when he was trying to help the
horse get it out of the mud, and he can’t get up. We need your help!
(4) [The children stand up suddenly and run to their mother. They cry in dismay. Mother closes
her eyes, presses her hands against the counter, and takes a deep breath.]
(5) Mother: May heaven help us! Mary, you cover this bread dough with a damp cloth so it
doesn’t ruin. Then you mind the baby. And no getting distracted! [She takes the girl’s face in
her hands and looks in her eyes.] Can you be a big girl? I need you to help.
(6) Mary: Yes, Mother. I’ll mind the baby.
(7) Mother: [pulling off her apron as she speaks] And you, Jacob, you mind your sister.
Promise now!
(8) Jacob: Yes, Mother.
(9) [Mother pulls on her boots and coat, which the older boy, John, is holding open for her.]
(10) Mother: What tools can we take from the barn to help, John?
(11) John: [as he closes the door behind them] We already have all the tools by the creek, in the
wagon.
(12) [Mother pops her head in one last time, surveying the children, who look frightened, and
have not moved.]
(13) Mother: Be good, children. We will be back soon.
How does the dialogue help to reveal Mother’s character?
a. Her focus on her family reveals that she is warm and generous.
b. The way she responds to a crisis reveals that she is organized and
levelheaded.
c. The series of commands she gives reveals that she is strict and mean.
d. The discussion with her children reveals that she is an anxious person.
1 answer
The correct answer is: b. The way she responds to a crisis reveals that she is organized and levelheaded.
In the passage, Mother remains calm despite the crisis. She quickly assesses the situation, gives clear instructions to her children, and makes sure they understand their responsibilities. This demonstrates her ability to think clearly and act decisively under pressure.
