Question

read paragraph 1 - 2
1 the carmen was in hysterics.
2 shed been that way all evening, and even though she lived a few houses down, she still sat on the couch in our living room, praying under her breath the way nuns at catholic school did if we sinned. shed come in vain. on most days, miguel came home by six, and even though hed said he was going to have a late shift, shed started panicking at eight. and so, shed come over from her house with her mascara running and her bible, making the sign of the cross so many times i thought her arms would fall off.
based on its use in the text, which is the best synonym for the phrase in hysterics?

• angry and alarmed
• anxious and fearful
• excited and hopeful
• exhausted and desperate

Explanation:

The text describes Tia Carmen panicking, praying frantically, and making the cross repeatedly after her family member was late. "In hysterics" here refers to an extreme, distraught state of panic and despair. "Angry and alarmed" is incorrect as there's no mention of anger; "anxious and fearful" is milder than the described state; "excited and hopeful" is the opposite of her mood. "Exhausted and desperate" matches her distraught, overwrought behavior (running mascara, repeated cross signs, panic).

Answer:

exhausted and desperate