Read the excerpt from “The Lottery.”"We're next." Mrs. Graves said. She watched while Mr. Graves came around from the side of the box, greeted Mr. Summers gravely and selected a slip of paper from the box. By now, all through the crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hand, turning them over and over nervously Mrs. Dunbar and her two sons stood together, Mrs. Dunbar holding the slip of paper.
Answer
A
It builds suspense as people prepare for the results.
B
It shows how mean-spirited the people have become.
C
It shows the indifference of the people toward the lottery.
D
It causes readers to reflect on a time when they worried.
Explanation
The repeated details of people selecting and nervously turning over their folded papers slow the moment before the results are revealed. This makes readers wonder who has drawn the marked slip, building suspense. The passage does not show indifference; the crowd’s nervous behavior suggests they are anxious about the outcome.
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