Question

it was a wonderful night, such a night as is only possible when we are young, dear reader. the sky was so starry, so bright that, looking at it, one could not help asking oneself whether ill - humored and capricious people could live under such a sky. that is a youthful question too, dear reader, very youthful, but may the lord put it more frequently into your heart! ... speaking of capricious and ill - humored people, i cannot help recalling my moral condition all that day. from early morning i had been oppressed by a strange despondency. it suddenly seemed to me that i was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. of course, any one is entitled to ask who \every one\ was. for though i had been living almost eight years in petersburg i had hardly an acquaintance. but what did i want with acquaintances? i was acquainted with all petersburg as it was; that was why i felt as though they were all deserting me when all petersburg packed up and went to its summer villa. i felt afraid of
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read this sentence from the passage.
\such a grave, pensive countenance; he is always whispering to himself and brandishing his left arm, while in his right hand he holds a long gnarled stick with a gold knob.\ (paragraph 1)
what does the word pensive mean in this sentence?

• an energetic attitude
• an inviting expression
• a deep thoughtfulness
• an arrogant appearance

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "pensive", we analyze the context. The sentence describes a "grave" (serious) countenance, and the person is whispering to himself, suggesting deep thought. "Energetic attitude" is opposite. "Inviting expression" doesn't match the serious/thoughtful tone. "Arrogant appearance" is about pride, not thought. "Deep thoughtfulness" fits the context of a serious, thoughtful look with self - whispering.

Answer:

C. a deep thoughtfulness