Question

Read the excerpt from "A Pair of Silk Stockings."

But she went on feeling the soft, sheeny luxurious things—with both hands now, holding them up to see them glisten, and to feel them glide serpent-like through her fingers.

Which best describes the underlying tone of the excerpt created by the connotations of the words “soft,” ”luxurious,” “glisten,” and “serpent-like”?

1. gloom
2. temptation
3. forgiveness
4. suspicion

Answer 1

The answer is: 2. temptation.

In the excerpt from "A Pair of Silk Stockings," the author Kate Chopin directs attention to Mrs. Sommers desire to spend the money on her own rather than on her children. In that respect, the words used to describe the articles she wishes to purchase have a provocative connotation. For example, soft means gentle, luxurious refers to something extremely elegant and classy, glisten is to shine, and serpent-like implies that the object is smooth to the sense of touch.

Answer 2

Answer:

B

Explanation: