What inference can be made about the old man based on the following line?
“It is nothing but the wind in the chimney –it is only a mouse crossing the floor,” or “It is merely
a cricket which has made a single chirp.”
A. He can’t get back to sleep due to the noise.
B. He is trying to comfort the narrator.
C. He is trying to figure out the sounds.
D. He is trying to calm his own fears
D. He is trying to calm his own fears
The inference that can be made about the old man based on the given lines is that D. He is trying to calm his own fears.
To infer the old man's attitude or intent based on the given lines, you can analyze his statements and the context. His responses of "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney," "It is only a mouse crossing the floor," and "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp" suggest that he is trying to explain away or minimize the sounds that the narrator is hearing.
To determine the correct option, let's evaluate each choice:
A. He can't get back to sleep due to the noise: There is no information in the given lines that suggests the old man is unable to sleep, so this option can be ruled out.
B. He is trying to comfort the narrator: This is a possible inference as the old man is attempting to reassure the narrator by offering explanations for the sounds. However, there isn't enough evidence in the given lines to definitively conclude that this is the correct option.
C. He is trying to figure out the sounds: While the old man is addressing the sounds by providing explanations, there is no indication that he is actively trying to figure out the source of the sounds. Hence, this option seems less likely.
D. He is trying to calm his own fears: This is the most plausible inference based on the old man's responses. By downplaying the sounds and attributing them to mundane sources like wind, mice, or a cricket, he may be attempting to calm his own fears or anxiety. The use of phrases like "nothing but," "only," and "merely" suggests an attempt to diminish the significance of the sounds and remain composed.
Therefore, the correct inference based on the given lines is:
D. He is trying to calm his own fears.