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 limberlost, did you select the correct answer from the drop - down menu read the excerpts from paragraphs 22 and 26 (22) \if they are perfect, that does not make the slightest difference. i know how to soften them so that i can put them into any shape i choose. where are they? when may i see them?\ (26) \could you tell me?\ asked the bird woman softly what do the word parts in soften and softly convey about the meaning of these words? the affix en in soften indicates that soften is the affix ly in softly

Explanation:

The suffix "en" often turns an adjective into a verb, so "soften" is a verb meaning "to make less hard". The suffix "ly" typically turns an adjective into an adverb. "Softly" is an adverb, but among the given options for the description related to the word - part, the closest relevant one for the "ly" in "softly" is an adjective - related description as it comes from the base adjective "soft". The base - word "soft" can mean "gentle and pleasing".

Answer:

The affix "en" in soften indicates that soften is a verb that means "to make less hard". The affix "ly" in softly indicates that softly is an adjective that means "gentle and pleasing".