Question 26·Medium·Words in Context
The following text is adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables. Anne Shirley, an imaginative orphan, has just been adopted by Marilla Cuthbert.
Anne’s heart was brimming over with unspoken gratitude, yet she chafed under Marilla’s severe instructions, feeling as though every fanciful impulse was being smothered.
As used in the text, what does the phrase “chafed under” most nearly mean?
For SAT Words in Context questions, always start by reading a few lines around the word or phrase and identify the overall tone: is it positive, negative, or neutral? Look for contrast words like “but,” “yet,” or “however,” and descriptive phrases (like “being smothered”) that show how the character feels. Then, instead of relying on the word’s definition alone, match the answer choice whose meaning and tone best fit the situation described in the sentence and eliminate choices that are too positive, too negative, or too neutral for the context.
Hints
Check the contrast word
Look carefully at the word “yet” in the sentence. How does it show a contrast between Anne’s gratitude and her reaction to Marilla’s instructions?
Decide if the reaction is positive, negative, or neutral
Based on the phrases “severe instructions” and “every fanciful impulse was being smothered,” think about whether Anne’s reaction to the instructions is happy, uncaring, or uncomfortable.
Think about the literal image of “chafed”
Imagine what happens when your skin is chafed by rough clothing or shoes. How does that feel, and how might that feeling apply to how Anne experiences the strict rules?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation in the sentence
First, restate what is happening:
- Anne is grateful to Marilla for adopting her (“heart was brimming over with unspoken gratitude”).
- At the same time, she reacts badly to Marilla’s severe instructions and feels as if her imagination is being crushed (“every fanciful impulse was being smothered”). This shows a conflict: positive feelings toward Marilla, but a negative reaction to the strict rules.
Use context to get the tone of “chafed under”
Focus on the phrase: “yet she chafed under Marilla’s severe instructions.”
- The word “yet” signals contrast: although she is grateful, her reaction to the instructions is different and negative.
- The description “every fanciful impulse was being smothered” is also negative. So “chafed under” must fit a negative emotional response to strict rules that feel limiting.
Connect the phrase to the answer choices
Think about the image of chafing: when something rubs your skin the wrong way, it causes discomfort and irritation. Used with “under” (as in “chafed under rules” or “chafed under authority”), it usually means feeling bothered or rubbed the wrong way by restrictions. Now test each choice against that meaning and the negative tone:
- Was protected by: positive/safe feeling, doesn’t match the sense of discomfort.
- Delighted in: strongly positive enjoyment, the opposite of feeling restricted.
- Was indifferent to: neutral/no strong feeling, doesn’t match the emotional conflict.
- Felt irritated by: negative, emotional discomfort that fits both the image of chafing and the idea that her impulses are being smothered. Therefore, the phrase “chafed under” most nearly means “Felt irritated by.”