Question

a girl of the limberlost
by gene stratton-porter (excerpt)
(1) ...\is the bird woman at home?\ elnora asked of the
maid.
(2) \she is at lunch,\ was the answer.
(3) \please ask her if she will see a girl from the limberlost
about some moths?\ inquired elnora.
(4) \i never need ask, if its moths,\ laughed the girl.
\orders are to bring any one with specimens right in.
come this way.\
(5) elnora followed down the hall and entered a long room
with high panelled wainscoting, old english fireplace with
an overmantel and closets of peculiar china filling the
corners. at a bare table of oak, yellow as gold, sat a
woman elnora often had watched and followed covertly
around the limberlost. the bird woman was holding out a
hand of welcome.
(6) \i heard!\ she laughed. \a little pasteboard box, or just
the mere word specimen, passes you at my door. if it is
moths i hope you have hundreds. ive been very busy all
summer and unable to collect, and i need so many. sit
down and lunch with me, while we talk it over. from the
select the correct answer.
which detail best develops the theme that it is a joy to connect with other people?
a. \you come here at four,\ said the bird woman, \and we will drive out with some specimen boxes, and a price list, and see what
you have to sell.\ (paragraph 24)
b. \he said for me to stick to the swamp and be brave, and my hour would come, and it has! i know most of them are all right, and
oh, i do need the money!\ (paragraph 25)
c. \at a bare table of oak, yellow as gold, sat a woman elnora often had watched and followed covertly around the limberlost. the
bird woman was holding out a hand of welcome.\ (paragraph 5)
d. \when i learned that the moths die so soon, i saved them especially, because there seemed no wickedness in it.\ \i have thought
the same thing,\ said the bird woman encouragingly. (paragraphs 9-10)

Explanation:

• Option A focuses on a business-like plan, not joyful connection.
• Option B centers on Elnora's personal goal of money, not connection.
• Option C shows a warm welcome, but it is an initial greeting rather than a deep shared joy of connection.
• Option D depicts Elnora and the Bird Woman discovering they share the same kind, thoughtful feeling about moths, which is a genuine, joyful moment of connecting over a shared value.

Answer:

D. "When I learned that the moths die so soon, I saved them especially, because there seemed no wickedness in it." "I have thought the same thing," said the Bird Woman encouragingly. (paragraphs 9-10)