Question

guided practice
read this passage from a doll’s house, a drama by henrik ibsen.
helmer. what are little people called that are always wasting
money?
nora. spendthrifts—i know. let us do as you suggest, torvald, and
then i shall have time to think what i am most in want of. that is a
very sensible plan, isn’t it?
helmer smiling. indeed it is—that is to say, if you were really to
save out of the money i give you, and then really buy something for
yourself. but if you spend it all on the housekeeping and any
number of unnecessary things, then i merely have to pay up again.
nora. oh but, torvald—
helmer. you can’t deny it, my dear little nora. puts his arm round

what detail in the passage is a context clue that it was written in a different
time and place from your own?
a. the couple is having a conversation about the wife’s habit of
spending too much money.
b. the man believes that his wife inherited the tendency to spend too
much money.
c. the man is a controlling husband who is using teasing to criticize his
wife.
d. the wife is trying to charm her husband into giving her more
money.

Explanation:

The passage directly shows Torvald (Helmer) and Nora discussing Nora's spending habits, with Torvald calling her a "spendthrift" and outlining a plan for her to manage money. This matches option A. Options B, C, and D are not supported: there is no mention of inheritance, the interaction is teasing rather than controlling criticism, and Nora does not attempt to charm Torvald for more money.

Answer:

A. The couple is having a conversation about the wife's habit of spending too much money.