Question 91·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel Little Women. Jo is visiting her neighbor, Mr. Laurence, for the first time.
Jo entered the grand library hesitantly, but the moment she caught sight of the towering bookcases her hesitation vanished. She clapped her hands softly, forgetting the presence of old Mr. Laurence. Moving from shelf to shelf, she whispered the titles as if greeting old friends. Books she had only dreamed of owning were here in rows, waiting to be explored. When at last Mr. Laurence asked whether she approved of his collection, Jo could only nod, her eyes shining with gratitude.
According to the passage, what is Jo’s reaction upon seeing the library?
For questions asking about a character’s reaction or attitude, first underline the exact part of the passage where the reaction happens. Then, note key words that show emotion (verbs like "clapped" or descriptions like "eyes shining with gratitude") and decide if the overall tone is positive or negative, and how strong it is. Go through each answer choice and cross out any that introduce ideas not mentioned in the text (like new worries or feelings), or whose emotional tone doesn’t match what you underlined. Choose the option that is fully supported by multiple details, not just one word taken out of context.
Hints
Find where Jo first sees the library
Reread the sentences beginning with "Jo entered the grand library hesitantly" and pay attention to what changes once she sees the towering bookcases.
Notice Jo’s actions and body language
Look for verbs that describe what Jo does (for example, how she moves, what she does with her hands, how she reacts physically) after she notices the shelves of books.
Decide on the tone of her feelings
Ask yourself: Does Jo’s behavior suggest that she feels positive or negative, and is her emotion weak and calm or very strong? Eliminate any choices whose emotional tone does not match the details in the passage.
Use specific phrases as evidence
Pay close attention to phrases like how her initial hesitation changes and how her eyes are described at the end; use those to rule out options that don’t fit.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks, “What is Jo’s reaction upon seeing the library?” This means you need to focus on Jo’s emotional and behavioral response right after she first sees the library and its books, not on anything that happens before she goes in or long after.
Locate the key part of the passage
Look at the sentences starting from "Jo entered the grand library hesitantly" and especially what happens after she sees the bookcases:
- "the moment she caught sight of the towering bookcases her hesitation vanished"
- "She clapped her hands softly, forgetting the presence of old Mr. Laurence."
- "Moving from shelf to shelf, she whispered the titles as if greeting old friends."
- "Books she had only dreamed of owning were here in rows, waiting to be explored."
- "Jo could only nod, her eyes shining with gratitude."
These details show how she responds when she sees all the books.
Determine the overall tone of her reaction
Ask: Is Jo’s reaction positive or negative? Is it weak or strong?
From the details:
- Her hesitation vanishes, which means any nervousness immediately disappears.
- She claps her hands and forgets Mr. Laurence is there, showing she is caught up in the moment.
- She treats the titles like “old friends,” which is affectionate and warm.
- She had only dreamed of owning these books before, and now they are right in front of her.
- Her eyes shine with gratitude, showing strong positive feeling.
Altogether, the tone is very positive and very intense, not calm, worried, or disappointed.
Match each answer choice to the evidence
Now compare each answer with the text:
- A) She worries she may damage the expensive volumes. The passage never shows her worrying about harming the books or thinking about their cost.
- B) She is disappointed by the selection of titles. This contradicts the fact that these are books she had dreamed of owning and that her eyes shine with gratitude.
- C) She feels indifferent toward Mr. Laurence’s generosity. The phrase "eyes shining with gratitude" shows she is not indifferent; she clearly appreciates him.
- D) She is overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of so many books. This fits the strong, joyful reaction shown by her clapping, whispering to the books like friends, and being full of gratitude.
Therefore, the correct answer is D) She is overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of so many books.