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 green - starry coasts of lower new york, when it seemed inconceivable that the flag - star 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 unknown 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 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 how does the author use the setting to convey the theme of freedom from routine? a the steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ excitement and anxiety at leaving their everyday lives. b the steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ resentment and bitterness toward their everyday lives. c the steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ growing discomfort with each other and their surroundings. d the steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ contented relief at changing their surroundings.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the text and options:

• The text describes the characters' feelings about the steamship journey: children longed for it (excitement), and there's also apprehension (anxiety) as Father was apprehensive. The setting (steamship) shows their mixed emotions of excitement and anxiety about leaving routine.
• Option A matches: "The steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ excitement and anxiety at leaving their everyday lives."
• Option B: No resentment shown.
• Option C: No discomfort with each other or surroundings.
• Option D: No contented relief; Father was apprehensive.

Answer:

A. The steamship setting helps the author show the characters’ excitement and anxiety at leaving their everyday lives.