Question

the guest
by yevheniya yaroshynska
translated by roma franko

1
she told him how many eggs the hens had laid, that meat had gone up in price again,
that the vegetables were terrible, and that the wash was giving her no end of trouble—it
had been hanging on the clothesline for three days now without drying.

2
he heard her out with his customary consideration. this was the report he had to listen
to every day when he came home from school and sat down to have dinner with his
wife.
after they finished discussing every item in detail, she finally asked him how things had
gone for him in school that day.
oh, he had more than his share of problems as well! the young mykhaylovych lad was
surely trying his patience. he was very mischievous and disruptive, but could not be
dealt with strictly because he was the principal’s son.

5
“just imagine this, if you can! he drew a caricature of me on the board today and then
wrote under it: ‘the teacher, wearing a coat altered by his wife.’ i think it would be
better if you didn’t try your hand at tailoring—your alterations are making me the butt of
the youngsters’ jokes.”

6
while saying this, he glanced over at this coat. its overly long coattails and
foreshortened sleeves truly did not inspire any feelings of awe or betray an elevated
aesthetic sense.
but his words got him into deep trouble! they were cause for real indignation!
things even went so far that his wife accused him of reproaching her for her hard work.

what is the meaning of “customary consideration” in paragraph 2?
a typical debate
b usual regard
c established favor
d accepted analysis

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "customary consideration", we analyze the context. The text says he heard her out with this, and it's something he does every day when he comes home. "Customary" means usual, and "consideration" here refers to regard (attention/thoughtfulness). Option A (debate) is incorrect as there's no debate. Option C (favor) doesn't fit as it's about listening habitually, not favor. Option D (analysis) is wrong as it's about listening with regard, not analyzing. Option B (usual regard) matches the context of his daily, habitual way of listening to her.

Answer:

B. usual regard