Question

autobiography of z. s. hastings: written for his boys
by z. s. hastings (excerpt)
chapter 2
(1) at the time of father’s arrival, indiana was only 14 years old and contained about 300,000 inhabitants. its capital city’s first mayor was inaugurated two years before i was born and three years after the stars fell.
(2) in 1842 when i was about four years old my parents sold out and moved down the river five or six miles and bought a new, larger and better farm with a large two story hewed log house and a big double log barn, and a good apple orchard. the farming land was bottom and lay along the river. here we had some sheep and cattle on a few hills and some hogs in the woods, that got fat in the winter on white oak acorns and beech nuts. and here we had a large “sugar orchard” as the hoosiers called it—hard maple trees by the many from which, in the early spring, flowed the sweet sap by the barrels full which we converted into gallons of maple syrup, and into many cakes of maple sugar.
(3) it was while we lived here, when i was six years old, there was the greatest flood, known to me, since the days of noah. i remember it well. you too, my boys, will never forget the year when i tell you it was the same year, 1844, in which your best earthly friend was born, your mother. but i did not know anything about her until twenty years afterwards.
select the correct answer.
which sentence provides the best evidence that the father probably enjoyed learning?
a. “my text - book was smiths. i would start at the first of the book, and get about half through at the end of the term.” (paragraph 5)
b. “...as soon as i got hold of it i ran with it to the barn loft and sat down on the hay and read all that was in it before i got up.” (paragraph 5)
c. “my parents were always anxious to have their children in school and made many sacrifices to this end.” (paragraph 11)
d. “i hardly remember the time when i was not in school, sunday school and church.” (paragraph 10)

Explanation:

To determine which sentence shows the father enjoyed learning, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Talks about the textbook and progress, not the father's enjoyment.
• Option B: The father (narrator) runs to read all of a book, showing eagerness and enjoyment of learning.
• Option C: Discusses parents' desire for children's education, not the father's learning enjoyment.
• Option D: Mentions being in school/church, not enjoyment of learning.

Answer:

B. "...as soon as I got hold of it I ran with it to the barn loft and sat down on the hay and read all that was in it before I got up." (paragraph 5)