Read the passage from A Raisin in the Sun . BENEATHA ( laughingly noticing what her mother is doing ) : Mama, what are you doing? MAMA: Fixing my plant so it won't get hurt none on the way . . . BENEATHA: Mama, you going to take that to the new house? MAMA: Un-huh— BENEATHA: That raggedy-looking old thing? MAMA ( stopping and looking at her ) : It expresses ME! RUTH ( with delight, to BENEATHA) : So there, Miss Thing! How would the tone change if the word hideous replaced the word raggedy ?
Answer
A
Beneatha would be telling the truth to her mother instead of sparing her feelings.
B
Beneatha would be harshly criticizing her mother instead of gently teasing her.
C
Beneatha would be telling a hilarious joke instead of making a mildly humorous comment.
D
Beneatha would be showing anger instead of expressing her sadness about the plant.
Explanation
“Raggedy-looking” suggests the plant is worn or shabby, so Beneatha’s comment sounds like gentle teasing. “Hideous” means extremely ugly and would make the remark much more insulting. The tone would shift to harsh criticism of her mother’s plant, rather than mild teasing.
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