Question

read the following passage carefully before you choose your answers.
impressed, annoyed, and ruffled aside in some confusion, speaking softly to her teacher who was with her. then the aunt, who was a very muscular woman, seized the young lady by her shoulders, lifted her off the ground, and thrust her, blushing, struggling, and protesting into my arms—by way of introduction! naturally enough, the girl was overcome with mortification, and conceived a violent dislike for me. (this story is exactly true, except that the daughter of the house was aged two and a half.)
now why,—in the name of reason, courtesy, education, justice, any lofty and noble consideration,—why should two-and-a-half be thus insulted? what is the point of view of the insulter? how does she justify her brutal behaviour? is it on the obvious ground of physical superiority in age and strength? it cannot be that, for we do not gratuitously outrage the feelings of all persons younger and smaller than ourselves. a stalwart six-foot septuagenarian does not thus comport himself toward a small gentleman of thirty or forty. it cannot be relationship, for such conduct does not obtain among adults, be they never so closely allied. it has no basis except that the victim is a child, and the child has no personal rights which we feel bound to respect.
the author’s tone in paragraph 6 (“now why... the insulter?”) can best be described as
a defensive
b witty
c exasperated
d ingratiating

Explanation:

The author uses rhetorical questions to challenge the justification for the adult's harsh treatment of a small child, expressing frustration at the unreasonable behavior. The tone shows irritation at the lack of courtesy and logic in the adult's actions, matching "exasperated".

Answer:

C. exasperated