Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 56%

Which of the following phrases from the passage added humor to an otherwise fearful mood?

Rationale

The phrase "Because she did—or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years" from the passage introduces humor to an otherwise fearful mood.

The humor lies in the juxtaposition of a mundane, relatable struggle (paying a mortgage) with the eerie, suspenseful atmosphere that pervades the rest of the passage. It serves as a moment of comic relief that lightens the overall tone.

A (Because she didÃƒÆ’Ã†'Ãƒâ€š¢ÃƒÆ’¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢â€š¬Ã…¡Ãƒâ€š¬"or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years.) CORRECT

This phrase is humorous because it addresses a common, real-life situation: the long-term commitment of paying off a mortgage. The presentation of this everyday struggle within a ghostly, suspenseful context creates an unexpected contrast, resulting in humor.

B (She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence does not contribute humor. Instead, it contributes to the fearful atmosphere by highlighting the character's fear and anticipation of a terrifying event.

C (But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence enhances the eerie mood rather than providing humor. It describes an unsettling feature of the house that contributes to the character's fear.

D (All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence contributes to the mysterious, old-fashioned setting but does not provide humor. The mention of 'skeleton key locks' might even heighten the suspenseful atmosphere by suggesting a connection to the supernatural.

Conclusion

In an otherwise fearful mood, the phrase "Because she did—or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years" provides a moment of humor. Its light-hearted tone and relatability offer a stark contrast to the suspenseful, ghostly atmosphere of the passage. The other choices either contribute to the eerie mood or create a sense of anticipation, lacking the unexpected contrast necessary to generate humor.

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