[Suburban Man 1 walks over to his neighbor’s house, hedge shears in hand.] Suburban Man 1: Hello there, neighbor! I see you’re edging your lawn. That’s a fine, fine cutting tool you have. May I ask where you bought it? [Suburban Man 2 turns from cutting an exact edge where his grass meets his driveway.] Suburban Man 2: Online. [Suburban Man 1 squints, suspicious, and then he masks his face with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes.] Suburban Man 1: Online where? Plenty of places to pick up garden tools online. Take these shears. [holds them in the air while Suburban Man 2 keeps his head down while edging]. They are top-of-the-line, British hedging shears. You know the masterful hedgerows in England, right? Well, I have just the tool to make that happen. See here, you could set a dinner plate on top of my hedge and eat a five-course meal off of it. [Suburban Man 2 does not look up from his edging.] Actually, you could lay out a table setting of twelve on top of my hedge, serve a five-course meal, and have a case of the finest drinks on there. [Once again, Suburban Man 2 does not look up from his edging, making Suburban Man 1 irritated.] Come to think of it, since such fine hedges are found in England, why not lay out a high tea on top of my hedge, with the dinner setting, and the case of drinks. That’s right: all the finest cakes, scones, cookies, silverware, all here on top of my hedge…. Question Use the play excerpt to answer the question. What does this satirical scene criticize? (1 point) Responses the relationship dynamics between the two characters the relationship dynamics between the two characters how much the characters value gardening how much the characters value gardening attention to appearances and material things attention to appearances and material things how people live in the suburbs

Answer 1

This satirical scene criticizes attention to appearances and material things. Suburban Man 1 is boastful about his high-end hedging shears and the pristine condition of his hedge, indicating a preoccupation with status and the superficial aspects of gardening rather than the simple enjoyment of the activity itself.