Question

adapted from the innocents: “chapter 2” by sinclair lewis
they took the steamer for massachusetts at five o’clock. when the band started to play, when mother feared that a ferry was going to collide with them, when beautiful youths in boating hats popped out of state - rooms like chorus - men in a musical comedy, when children banged small sand pails, when the steamer rounded the dream castles of lower new york, when it seemed inconceivable that the flag - staff could get under brooklyn bridge— which didn’t clear it by much more than a hundred feet— when a totally new new york of factories and docks, of steamers bound for ceylon and yachts bound for newport, was revealed to these old new - yorkers— then mother mingled a terrific apprehension regarding ships and water with a palpitating excitement over sailing into the freedom which these two gray - haired children had longed for all their lives, and had found during two weeks of each year.
father was perfectly tremendous. he apprehensive? why, he might have been the original man to go down to the sea in ships. mother wailed that all the deck chairs had been taken; father found mountains of chairs and flipped a couple of them open as though he were a steward with service stripes. he was simply immense in his manner of thrusting mother and himself and his chairs and a mound of shawls and coats into the midst of the crowd gathered at the bow. he noted mother’s nervousness and observed, casually, “mighty safe, these boats. like ferries. safer ’n trains. yes, they’re safer ’n staying home in bed, what with burglars and fires and everything.”
“oh, do you really think they are safe?” breathed mother, comforted.
admirable though father was, he couldn’t sit still. he was wearing a decorative new traveling cap, very smart and extensive and expensive, shaped like a...
what is the meaning of the word pompous in the sentence below from paragraph 8?
“from the pompous manner in which father unpacked his bag you would have been utterly beguiled, and have supposed him to be one of those high persons who have whole suites to themselves and see their squires only at state banquets, when there are celery and olives, and the squire is invited to dinner.”
a self - important
b hurried
c careful
d well - mannered

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "pompous" in the sentence, we analyze the context. The sentence describes Father unpacking his bag in a way that involves being beguiled by high - status people and state banquets. "Self - important" fits as it implies an exaggerated sense of one's own importance, which aligns with the context of associating with high - status events and people. "Hurried" (B) doesn't match the context of a manner related to social status. "Careful" (C) is about being cautious, not about social demeanor. "Well - mannered" (D) is about good behavior, not the sense of self - importance suggested here.

Answer:

A. self - important