Question

which example from \a visit of charity\ speeds up the pacing of the story and makes the reader feel as if the action is happening quickly?

a. the old woman, still with that terrible, square smile (which was a smile of welcome) stamped on her bony face, was waiting... perhaps she said something.

b. then something was snatched from marians hand — the little potted plant. \flowers!\ screamed the old woman. she stood holding the pot in an undecided way. \pretty flowers,\ she added.

c. she stopped for a moment beside one of the prickly dark shrubs with which the city had beautified the home, and then proceeded slowly toward the building, which was of whitewashed brick and reflected the winter sunlight like a block of ice.

d. as she walked vaguely up the steps she shifted the small pot from hand to hand; then she had to set it down and remove her mittens before she could open the heavy door.

Explanation:

To determine which example speeds up the story's pacing, we analyze the action and sentence structure. Option B has quick, abrupt actions: "snatched," "screamed," and rapid dialogue. This creates a sense of urgency and fast - moving action. In contrast, A has a more static description, C has slow, descriptive movement, and D has deliberate, slow actions (shifting, setting down, removing mittens). So B's action - packed and rapid - paced events make the reader feel the action is happening quickly.

Answer:

B. Then something was snatched from Marian's hand – the little potted plant. "Flowers!" screamed the old woman. She stood holding the pot in an undecided way. "Pretty flowers," she added.