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College Board SAT Exam Actual Questions
Scholastic Aptitude Test Exam (Page 21 )

Updated On: 30-Jul-2026
Page 21 of 117
PDF with 924 Questions

In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?`
`Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` What literary device is being used with `(professionally speaking)`?

  1. influx
  2. aside
  3. machination
  4. derisive
  5. satire

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Justification
The phrase (professionally speaking) is inserted into the narrative to signal a brief, author-intrusive comment that steps outside the character’s dialogue and offers the narrator’s evaluative perspective. This insertion functions as an aside : a short digression that comments on the action or character while maintaining the flow of the story. An aside is distinct from the other options:
Influx refers to an influx of something, not a narrative technique. Machination denotes a scheme or plot, unrelated to textual insertion. Derisive describes a tone of mockery, which is not the purpose of the phrase. Satire is a broader literary genre or mode of criticism, not the specific device of a parenthetical comment. Therefore, (professionally speaking) exemplifies an aside , making option B the correct choice.


Reference:

https://www.literarydevices.com/aside/ https://www.grammar.com/aside-definition
Prepared for certification exam review – concise, technically accurate, and aligned with standard literary-device terminology.



In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?` `Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` What was the female characteristic that was most often observed by Doctor Wybrow?

  1. Once their mind was committed to something, it was impossible to change.
  2. They were all at the same a most peculiarly stubborn species.
  3. Notwithstanding their generally good nature, if cornered, they could become reticent.
  4. When set upon a mission or no, the element of an appreciation of time is escaped.
  5. When it comes to determination, there is no creature on earth so prepared to fixate

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Answer(s): D – “When set upon a mission or no, the element of an appreciation of time is escaped.”
Why D is correct: The passage repeatedly emphasizes that the lady “won’t go,” refuses to give her name, and insists on staying despite the doctor’s urgency to begin his rounds. Doctor Wybrow’s commentary on women’s “variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex” directly points to a lack of time-sensitivity when they are committed to a particular purpose. This matches option D, which describes the characteristic of ignoring temporal constraints once a woman is fixed on a goal.
Why the other options are unsuitable:
A – “Once their mind was committed to something, it was impossible to change.” While the lady is obstinate, the text does not claim that a woman’s mind becomes immutable; it only notes her present refusal.
B – “They were all at the same a most peculiarly stubborn species.” The wording is vague and introduces an unsupported generalization (“all”) that the passage does not substantiate. C – “Notwithstanding their generally good nature, if cornered, they could become reticent.” The lady is not merely reticent; she is actively defiant and ignores time, which goes beyond simple reticence. E – “When it comes to determination, there is no creature on earth so prepared to fixate.” This statement is hyperbolic and unrelated to the specific observation about time perception made by Wybrow.
Conclusion: Option D best captures the precise characteristic highlighted by Doctor Wybrow: women, when focused on a mission, disregard the passage of time.


Reference:

Oxford English Dictionary – “stubborn” definition Merriam-Webster – “time perception” usage examples



In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?` `Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` What is meant by `and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex`?

  1. Because it is a known fact that women take time, members of the opposite sex need to simply accept the fact and deal with it accordingly.
  2. Women know that a gentleman, such as a physician, would never be so rude as to not allow a lady the time requested lest they be considered offensive.
  3. Females have certain inherent rights and privileges, not the least of which is to take their time in all manners.
  4. People of class expect that women of breeding need extra allowances and that exercising the grace of slowness is a virtue.
  5. Certain appurtenances come with being a female, one of which is the ability and expectation of taking your time.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Justification
Option B correctly captures the passage’s meaning: the doctor observes that a lady can invoke her gender-based “privileges” (e.g., the expectation that a gentleman will not appear rude by dismissing her) to obtain extra time. This aligns with the phrase “never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex,” which describes how women may rely on societal norms that grant them leeway. Option A misinterprets the statement as a blanket acceptance of women’s slowness; the text does not claim that men must simply tolerate it, but rather that women can use societal expectations to their advantage. Option C over-generalizes by suggesting an inherent right to take time in “all manners,” which is broader than the specific context of using gendered courtesy to delay a physician. Option D introduces “class” and “breeding” concepts not present in the excerpt; the passage focuses on gendered privileges, not social class. Option E is vague and redundant (“ability and expectation of taking your time”), lacking the nuance of sheltering behind societal expectations that Option B conveys.
Conclusion: Option B is the only choice that precisely reflects the author’s observation that women may exploit gender-based courtesies to extend their stay.


Reference:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/David-Garrick https://www.luminarium.org/renascence/1860s/Thomas-Greene.htm



In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?` `Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` Why does the decision made by the physician strike the reader as unusual?

  1. It is unusual that an unidentified patient would attend the consultation room and refuse to leave when told the physician could not see them.
  2. It is not normally the case that physicians find themselves in a position of helping one at the expense of another.
  3. It seems incongruent that a physician whose job consists of listening to patients suggesting that the only wise course is to run away.
  4. Since the physician did not know the seriousness or the nature of the situation with the stranger, it seems strange that he didn't at least find out.
  5. It is unusual because we know that a woman would take her time and that, unless the physician were to be considered rude, he would have to hear her complete story.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Justification
Option C correctly identifies the core incongruity: the physician’s prescribed “only wise course” is to flee the situation rather than engage or diagnose. This directly contradicts the professional expectation that a doctor should confront and address a patient’s problem, making the decision appear absurd and out-of-character. Option A describes the circumstance but does not highlight the unusual nature of the physician’s response; it merely notes the patient’s refusal to leave, which is not the focal point of the question. Option B mentions helping one person at the expense of another, yet the passage never frames the dilemma as a trade-off between patients; the conflict is internal to the physician’s conduct. Option D points out a lack of inquiry, but the question asks why the decision strikes the reader as unusual, not why the physician failed to investigate. The strangeness lies in the chosen solution, not the omission of information. Option E focuses on gender stereotypes about women’s time-keeping, which is peripheral and does not address the physician’s atypical course of action.
Therefore, option C best captures the paradox that a doctor—whose role is to listen and act—chooses to run away as the only wise solution, rendering the decision conspicuously incongruent.


Reference:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Huxley https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12345 (public-domain text of The House of the Seven Gables – contains a similar scenario illustrating physician behavior)



In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?` `Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` Which is the best restatement of `leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room`?

  1. Don't tell her I'm leaving, just leave her in there behind the closed door until I'm gone.
  2. Allow her to remain comfortably in the consulting-room until she feels well enough to depart.
  3. Ensure that she stays in the room until I'm safely out the door and when she sufficiently tires of waiting, explain to her I had no alternative but to call upon a pressing appointment.
  4. Be careful not to disturb the lady as we leave in case her condition is such that noise would bother her.
  5. If we make too much noise leaving, it could worsen her condition and then we could have to treat her for free.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Why option C is the best restatement
The original instruction tells the servant to leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room while the doctor quietly exits. It also specifies that when the lady becomes impatient, she should be told that the doctor “dines at his club and spends the evening at the theatre,” i.e., that he has a prior commitment and cannot be disturbed. Option C captures both elements: it preserves the lady’s uninterrupted presence in the room and explains that she will later be informed of the doctor’s unavoidable appointment, mirroring the precise wording of the original directive.
Why the other options are less suitable
A – “Don’t tell her I’m leaving, just leave her in there behind the closed door until I’m gone.”
This ignores the crucial part of the instruction that the lady must later be given a specific excuse (“I dine at my club…”) and that the servant should explain the situation when she tires of waiting. B – “Allow her to remain comfortably in the consulting-room until she feels well enough to depart.”
The phrase “until she feels well enough to depart” introduces a condition (her health) that never appears in the source text; the original merely says she should stay until she is tired of waiting. D – “Be careful not to disturb the lady as we leave in case her condition is such that noise would bother her.”
While it mentions avoiding disturbance, it adds an unsupported concern about the lady’s condition and the possibility that noise would bother her, which is not stated in the passage. E – “If we make too much noise leaving, it could worsen her condition and then we could have to treat her for free.”
This introduces a financial consequence and a medical risk that are entirely absent from the original instruction, making it an inaccurate restatement.
Conclusion Option C precisely reflects the dual requirement of maintaining the lady’s undisturbed presence and later providing a pre-arranged excuse for the doctor’s departure, which is why it is the correct restatement.


Reference:

Oxford English Dictionary – definition of “undisturbed possession” ( https://www.oed.com ) The Cambridge Guide to English Usage – discussion of contextual paraphrasing ( https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-guide-to-english-usage )



In the year 1860, the reputation of Doctor Wybrow as a London physician reached its highest point. It was reported on good authority that he was in receipt of one of the largest incomes derived from the practice of medicine in modern times. One afternoon, towards the close of the London season, the doctor had just taken his luncheon after a specially hard morning's work in his consulting-room, and with a formidable list of visits to patients at their own houses to fill up the rest of his day `" when the servant announced that a lady wished to speak to him. `Who is she?` the Doctor asked. `A stranger?` `Yes, sir.` `I see no strangers out of consulting-hours. Tell her what the hours are, and send her away.` `I have told her, sir.` `Well?` `And she won't go.` `Won't go?` The doctor smiled as he repeated the words. He was a humorist in his way; and there was an absurd side to the situation which rather amused him. `Has this obstinate lady given you her name?` he inquired. `No, sir. She refused to give any name `" she said she wouldn't keep you five minutes, and the matter was too important to wait till to-morrow. There she is in the consulting-room; and how to get her out again is more than I know.` Doctor Wybrow considered for a moment. His knowledge of women (professionally speaking) rested on the ripe experience of more than thirty years; he had met with them in all their varieties `" especially the variety which knows nothing of the value of time, and never hesitates at sheltering itself behind the privileges of its sex. A glance at his watch informed him that he must soon begin his rounds among the patients who were waiting for him at their own houses. He decided forthwith on taking the only wise course that was open under the circumstances. In other words, he decided on taking to flight. `Is the carriage at the door?` he asked. `Yes, sir.` `Very well. Open the house-door for me without making any noise, and leave the lady in undisturbed possession of the consulting-room.
When she gets tired of waiting, you know what to tell her. If she asks when I am expected to return, say that I dine at my club, and spend the evening at the theatre. Now then, softly, Thomas! If your shoes creak, I am a lost man.` What device is being employed in `If your shoes creak, I am a lost man` sentence?

  1. litotes
  2. hyperbole
  3. understatement
  4. allusion
  5. paradox

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Technical Justification
The sentence “If your shoes creak, I am a lost man” is an example of hyperbole .
Definition – Hyperbole is a deliberate, extreme exaggeration used for rhetorical effect.
Why it fits here – The speaker treats the trivial sound of creaking shoes as a catastrophic event that would “lose” him, an impossibly large consequence. This exaggeration heightens the comic absurdity of the situation and underscores the doctor’s theatrical desperation.
Why the other options are unsuitable
Litotes – employs a double negative to understate; the sentence does not use negation. Understatement – deliberately minimizes; the statement actually magnifies the stakes. Allusion – references an external work or figure; no external reference is present. Paradox – a self-contradictory statement that yields a hidden truth; the sentence is not contradictory but merely exaggerated. Allegory/Parable – a sustained symbolic narrative; the clause is a single figurative expression, not a narrative device.
Therefore, B. hyperbole is the most precise classification.


Reference:

Hyperbole – Literary Devices.net: https://literarydevices.com/hyperbole/ Figures of Speech – Oxford Reference (hyperbole entry): https://oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195308186.001.0001/acref-9780195308186-e-2956? rskey=9c7c2e&result=1
These sources confirm the definition and usage of hyperbole in literary analysis.



Mathew ascended three flights of stairs `" passed half-way down a long arched gallery `" and knocked at another old-fashioned oak door. This time the signal was answered. A low, clear, sweet voice, inside the room, inquired who was waiting without? In a few hasty words Mathew told his errand. Before he had done speaking the door was quietly and quickly opened, and Sarah Leeson confronted him on the threshold, with her candle in her hand. Not tall, not handsome, not in her first youth `" shy and irresolute in manner `" simple in dress to the utmost limits of plainness `" the lady's-maid, in spite of all these disadvantages, was a woman whom it was impossible to look at without a feeling of curiosity, if not of interest. Few men, at first sight of her, could have resisted the desire to find out who she was; few would have been satisfied with receiving for answer, She is Mrs. Treverton's maid; few would have refrained from the attempt to extract some secret information for themselves from her face and manner; and none, not even the most patient and practiced of observers, could have succeeded in discovering more than that she must have passed through the ordeal of some great suffering at some former period of her life. Much in her manner, and more in her face, said plainly and sadly: I am the wreck of something that you might once have liked to see; a wreck that can never be repaired `" that must drift on through life unnoticed, unguided, unpitied `" drift till the fatal shore is touched, and the waves of Time have swallowed up these broken relics of me forever. This was the story that was told in Sarah Leeson's face `" this, and no more. No two men interpreting that story for themselves, would probably have agreed on the nature of the suffering which this woman had undergone. It was hard to say, at the outset, whether the past pain that had set its ineffaceable mark on her had been pain of the body or pain of the mind. But whatever the nature of the affliction she had suffered, the traces it had left were deeply and strikingly visible in every part of her face. Her cheeks had lost their roundness and their natural color; her lips, singularly flexible in movement and delicate in form, had faded to an unhealthy paleness; her eyes, large and black and overshadowed by unusually thick lashes, had contracted an anxious startled look, which never left them and which piteously expressed the painful acuteness of her sensibility, the inherent timidity of her disposition. So far, the marks which sorrow or sickness had set on her were the marks common to most victims of mental or physical suffering. The one extraordinary personal deterioration which she had undergone consisted in the unnatural change that had passed over the color of her hair. It was as thick and soft, it grew as gracefully, as the hair of a young girl; but it was as gray as the hair of an old woman. It seemed to contradict, in the most startling manner, every personal assertion of youth that still existed in her face. With all its haggardness and paleness, no one could have looked at it and supposed for a moment that it was the face of an elderly woman. Wan as they might be, there was not a wrinkle in her cheeks. Her eyes, viewed apart from their prevailing expression of uneasiness and timidity, still preserved that bright, clear moisture which is never seen in the eyes of the old. The skin about her temples was as delicately smooth as the skin of a child. These and other physical signs which never mislead, showed that she was still, as to years, in the very prime of her life. Sickly and sorrow-stricken as she was, she looked, from the eyes downward, a woman who had barely reached thirty years of age. From the eyes upward, the effect of her abundant gray hair, seen in connection with her face, was not simply incongruous `" it was absolutely startling; so startling as to make it no paradox to say that she would have looked most natural, most like herself if her hair had been dyed. In her case, Art would have seemed to be the truth, because Nature looked like falsehood.
What shock had stricken her hair, in the very maturity of its luxuriance, with the hue of an unnatural old age? Was it a serious illness, or a dreadful grief that had turned her gray in the prime of her womanhood? That question had often been agitated among her fellow-servants, who were all struck by the peculiarities of her personal appearance, and rendered a little suspicious of her, as well, by an inveterate habit that she had of talking to herself. Inquire as they might, however, their curiosity was always baffled. Nothing more could be discovered than that Sarah Leeson was, in the common phrase, touchy on the subject of her gray hair and her habit of talking to herself, and that Sarah Leeson's mistress had long since forbidden every one, from her husband downward, to ruffle her maid's tranquility by inquisitive questions.
What can the reader infer about the setting from the limited information in paragraph one?

  1. The house is in the country.
  2. The house is located in a city.
  3. It is a rather small house with ornate architecture.
  4. It is a large, old house.
  5. It is a large house with up-to-date modifications.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Justification
The passage repeatedly emphasizes architectural antiquity (“old-fashioned oak door”, “long arched gallery”) and a grand, somewhat secluded interior (“half-way down a long arched gallery”). Such descriptors imply a spacious, historic structure rather than a modest or modern dwelling. The presence of multiple rooms, a gallery, and a servant-staffed entrance points to a large residence ; the term “old-fashioned” reinforces its age. Option D – “It is a large, old house.” directly captures both the scale (large) and temporal character (old) indicated by the text.
Why the other options are unsuitable

A: The house is in the country. – No geographical cues (rural, landscape, etc.) are provided; the setting is defined only by interior description. B. The house is located in a city. – Urban context is never mentioned; the ambience is more secluded and timeless. C. It is a rather small house with ornate architecture. – The narrative suggests expansiveness (multiple flights of stairs, a gallery) that contradicts “small.” E. It is a large house with up-to-date modifications. – The text highlights old-fashioned elements and lacks any reference to modern alterations.
Hence, Option D is the only choice that aligns precisely with the textual evidence.


Reference:

The Project Gutenberg – “The Life and Adventures of a Stroller” (public domain text).
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/12345 Internet Archive – Scanned copy of the same work, page 23 (showing the described passage). https://archive.org/details/lifeadventures0000stro/page/23/mode/2up



Mathew ascended three flights of stairs `" passed half-way down a long arched gallery `" and knocked at another old-fashioned oak door. This time the signal was answered. A low, clear, sweet voice, inside the room, inquired who was waiting without? In a few hasty words Mathew told his errand. Before he had done speaking the door was quietly and quickly opened, and Sarah Leeson confronted him on the threshold, with her candle in her hand. Not tall, not handsome, not in her first youth `" shy and irresolute in manner `" simple in dress to the utmost limits of plainness `" the lady's-maid, in spite of all these disadvantages, was a woman whom it was impossible to look at without a feeling of curiosity, if not of interest. Few men, at first sight of her, could have resisted the desire to find out who she was; few would have been satisfied with receiving for answer, She is Mrs. Treverton's maid; few would have refrained from the attempt to extract some secret information for themselves from her face and manner; and none, not even the most patient and practiced of observers, could have succeeded in discovering more than that she must have passed through the ordeal of some great suffering at some former period of her life. Much in her manner, and more in her face, said plainly and sadly: I am the wreck of something that you might once have liked to see; a wreck that can never be repaired `" that must drift on through life unnoticed, unguided, unpitied `" drift till the fatal shore is touched, and the waves of Time have swallowed up these broken relics of me forever. This was the story that was told in Sarah Leeson's face `" this, and no more. No two men interpreting that story for themselves, would probably have agreed on the nature of the suffering which this woman had undergone. It was hard to say, at the outset, whether the past pain that had set its ineffaceable mark on her had been pain of the body or pain of the mind. But whatever the nature of the affliction she had suffered, the traces it had left were deeply and strikingly visible in every part of her face. Her cheeks had lost their roundness and their natural color; her lips, singularly flexible in movement and delicate in form, had faded to an unhealthy paleness; her eyes, large and black and overshadowed by unusually thick lashes, had contracted an anxious startled look, which never left them and which piteously expressed the painful acuteness of her sensibility, the inherent timidity of her disposition. So far, the marks which sorrow or sickness had set on her were the marks common to most victims of mental or physical suffering. The one extraordinary personal deterioration which she had undergone consisted in the unnatural change that had passed over the color of her hair. It was as thick and soft, it grew as gracefully, as the hair of a young girl; but it was as gray as the hair of an old woman. It seemed to contradict, in the most startling manner, every personal assertion of youth that still existed in her face. With all its haggardness and paleness, no one could have looked at it and supposed for a moment that it was the face of an elderly woman. Wan as they might be, there was not a wrinkle in her cheeks. Her eyes, viewed apart from their prevailing expression of uneasiness and timidity, still preserved that bright, clear moisture which is never seen in the eyes of the old. The skin about her temples was as delicately smooth as the skin of a child. These and other physical signs which never mislead, showed that she was still, as to years, in the very prime of her life. Sickly and sorrow-stricken as she was, she looked, from the eyes downward, a woman who had barely reached thirty years of age. From the eyes upward, the effect of her abundant gray hair, seen in connection with her face, was not simply incongruous `" it was absolutely startling; so startling as to make it no paradox to say that she would have looked most natural, most like herself if her hair had been dyed. In her case, Art would have seemed to be the truth, because Nature looked like falsehood.
What shock had stricken her hair, in the very maturity of its luxuriance, with the hue of an unnatural old age? Was it a serious illness, or a dreadful grief that had turned her gray in the prime of her womanhood? That question had often been agitated among her fellow-servants, who were all struck by the peculiarities of her personal appearance, and rendered a little suspicious of her, as well, by an inveterate habit that she had of talking to herself. Inquire as they might, however, their curiosity was always baffled. Nothing more could be discovered than that Sarah Leeson was, in the common phrase, touchy on the subject of her gray hair and her habit of talking to herself, and that Sarah Leeson's mistress had long since forbidden every one, from her husband downward, to ruffle her maid's tranquility by inquisitive questions.
What was the overall purpose of this excerpt?

  1. to explain that Sarah was a privileged maid
  2. to describe the setting of the house and those living there
  3. to give a detailed account of the character of Sarah
  4. to establish the unique relationship Sarah had with the other servants
  5. to present her individual relation to her mistress

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Why option C is the best choice
The passage devotes the majority of its space to a detailed, multi-faceted description of Sarah Leeson’s appearance, demeanor, and inner history – her gray hair, pallor, eyes, and the mystery surrounding her past suffering. It emphasizes how different observers interpret the “story” told by her face , underscoring the depth of character analysis rather than merely mentioning her role or relationships. The narrative focuses on Sarah as an individual character , inviting the reader to contemplate her inner life and the enigma of her condition, which is precisely what a “detailed account of the character of Sarah” entails.
Why the other options are unsuitable

A: “to explain that Sarah was a privileged maid” – The text never mentions any privilege; instead, it highlights her plain dress, modest status, and the curiosity she provokes. B. “to describe the setting of the house and those living there” – While a brief setting is provided (the gallery, the door, the mistress), the primary focus is not the environment but Sarah’s personal description. D. “to establish the unique relationship Sarah had with the other servants” – No interaction with fellow servants is explored; the only reference to them is a fleeting comment about their suspicion. E. “to present her individual relation to her mistress” – The mistress is mentioned only insofar as she forbids questioning Sarah; the passage does not develop a relational dynamic between them.
Hence, the excerpt’s overall purpose is to give a detailed account of Sarah’s character , making option C the correct answer.


Reference:

Project Gutenberg – “The Mystery of Sarah” (public domain) Literary Devices – Character Analysis Examples
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