Question 222
HardOriginal questionEmma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy , seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to or her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, father; and had, in consequence of her sister’s marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as , who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse’s family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any ; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor’s judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.
The first sentence says Emma "seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence". What might the word "seemed" hint at?
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
"Seemed" describes how things look, not how they are.
A careful writer who says a character "seemed" to have everything often hints that the story will test that picture.
Worth noting
The word does not deny her blessings. It leaves room for doubt.
- Concept
- Noticing how one word shades meaning
- Typical timeTypical
- 60 s
- Your timeYours
- —
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