Understanding Suspense in a Mystery: "Object Lesson"
Question 10 • FL-1001010-M/J Language Arts 1 A-CR
Read the excerpt from "Object Lesson, Part 2.""No sign of the original envelope?""No.""I found two boys with bills — in each case a single, too. David Strager and Joey Buell. No envelope."Louise's brows met.Ellery glanced up at the clock. 9:07.He strolled over to her. "Don't show them you're worried. There's nothing to worry about. We have twenty-eight minutes." He raised his voice, smiling.
Answer
A
He infers that Miss Carpenter thinks they are not going to find the thief because he sees her facial expression.
B
He infers that it will take twenty-eight more minutes to find the missing money because that is all the time he has.
C
He infers that the original envelope will not be found because neither David Strager nor Joey Buell has it.
D
He infers that David Strager and Joey Buell took the money because they each have a dollar bill.
Explanation
Louise’s brows meet when she hears that the original envelope has not been found and two boys each have a bill. Ellery reads her worried expression and tells her not to show that she is worried. The excerpt does not say he has concluded either boy stole the money, or that the envelope cannot be found; the twenty-eight minutes refers to the time remaining.
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