Tradition

Question

by George Middleto
OLLIVANT. [Affectionately.] Glad to be home again, Mary?
MARY. [Evasively.] The garden is so pretty.
OLLIVANT. Hasn't changed much, eh?
MARY. It seems different; perhaps it's the night.
OLLIVANT. I guess it isn't up to its usual standard.
Haven't seen your mother there so often this spring.
EMILY. [Quietly.] This dry spell is not good for flowers.
OLLIVANT. [Turning to EMILY and patting her.] Is there any of that spray mixture left, Emily, dear?
EMILY. I haven't looked lately.
OLLIVANT. I'll order some to-morrow. Think it would be a good idea, daughter, if you'd spray those rosebushes every couple of weeks. The bugs are a pest this spring.
[OLLIVANT goes to the mantel, and while his back is turned, MARY makes a quick questioning gesture to her mother, who sighs helplessly. MARY ponders a moment.]
Use the lines below to answer the question.
What conclusion can be drawn about the characters, based on this excerpt?
(1 point)
• Ollivant and his wife disagreed about how to raise Mary.
• Ollivant and his wife have a strong, loving marriage.
• Mary and her father used to love gardening together.
• Mary and her father have a tense relationship.

Answer 1

The conclusion that can be drawn about the characters, based on this excerpt, is that Mary and her father have a tense relationship.

This is evident from Mary's evasive response to Ollivant's question about being glad to be home and her quick questioning gesture to her mother, which indicates some underlying tension or discomfort in her interaction with her father.