Question

1. the description of the lottery in paragraph 1 is meant to make the reader feel – a. suspicious about the true meaning of the lottery. b. that the lottery is a pleasant tradition. c. certain something bad will happen. d. that the lottery is very important.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The first paragraph's lottery description (typically in "The Lottery" story) doesn't initially make readers suspicious of its true meaning; suspicion comes later. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: In the story, the initial description of the lottery (kids playing, villagers gathering) portrays it as a normal, pleasant tradition, which lures readers into a false sense of calm before the dark twist. This matches the typical setup.
• Option C: Initially, the description doesn't hint at something bad; the bad event is a surprise later. So C is wrong.
• Option D: The description focuses on the routine/tradition, not emphasizing extreme importance. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. that the lottery is a pleasant tradition.