Question 2
Information institutions started about 5000 to 8000 years ago when, at different places around the world, priests emerged as specialized preservers and producers of information. Collectively, they were also the primary information storage media of their societies. Because reliance on individual and group memory to transmit information across time and space was inefficient, recording methods emerged. Writers had to be trained, and schools emerged. Writing, in turn, led to the establishment of formal information-storage institutions. Under the Assyrian King Assurbanipal (668 to 627 B.C.), the royal library in Nineveh stocked over 10,000 works. Documents were arranged by subject such as law, medicine, history, astronomy, biography, religion, commerce, legends and hymns, each in a separate room in a compound. Wise men congregated there to use the information and to add to it. No doubt they also argued among themselves and were surrounded by disciples. Thus, knowledge and inquiry were already being organized along lines strikingly similar to today"s university departments. Adapted from Eli M. Noam, "Electronics and the Dim Future of the University. ©2016 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Which choice is the best version of the double quoted portion?
Rationale
Weary eyes gaze at the screen, indicating fatigue and lack of engagement.
The word "weary" conveys a sense of tiredness that aligns with the context of struggling to concentrate on the screen, making it the best choice to replace "wry."
A) (as it is now)
Keeping the phrase "wry eyes" does not effectively convey the intended meaning. The term "wry" typically suggests a dry, sarcastic humor or expression, which does not align with the context of fatigue and difficulty in focusing.
C) Writhing
The choice "writhing" implies a sense of twisting or contorting, usually associated with pain or discomfort. This word does not fit the context of fatigue or disengagement from the plot but rather suggests a more intense physical reaction that is inappropriate here.
D) Wary
Using "wary" implies a sense of caution or suspicion, which does not accurately reflect the emotional state of the narrator regarding their experience with the screen. The focus is on fatigue rather than a cautious approach to the reading material.
Conclusion
In this context, "weary" most accurately describes the narrator's tiredness and struggle to engage with the screen, making it the best choice. The other options—"wry," "writhing," and "wary"—fail to capture the intended sentiment of fatigue and disengagement, leaving "weary" as the clear and appropriate selection for conveying the narrator's state of mind.
