Question 7 • CMS 2026-2027 English III CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher." No sooner had these syllable passed my lips, than -- as if a shield of brass had indeed, at the moment, fallen heavily upon a floor of silver -- I became aware of a distinct, hollow, metallic, and clangorous, yet apparently muffled reverberation. Completely unnerved, I leaped to my feet; but the measured rocking movement of Usher was undisturbed. How might the word "unnerved" indicate that the narrator is unreliable?
Answer
A
The word suggests the narrator is too tired to describe the events correctly.
B
The word suggests the narrator is too frightened to portray events accurately.
C
The word suggests the narrator is too distracted to comprehend the events.
D
The word suggests the narrator is too confused to understand the events.
Explanation
“Unnerved” means deeply shaken or frightened. Since the narrator says he is unnerved by the strange metallic sound, his fear could affect how accurately he describes what is happening. The choice that matches this is that he is too frightened to portray events accurately.
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