The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

2. Wheeler suggest that the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting was
a. his success.
b. his lack of success.
c. his cheerful attitude about it.
d. the range of things on which he would bet.
I think it's either b. or d.
Can somebody please help me?

Never mind, the answer is b.

Sure! I'd be happy to help you determine the correct answer. In order to figure out the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting, let's take a look at the story.

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is a short story written by Mark Twain. In the story, Jim Smiley is portrayed as a compulsive gambler who bets on almost anything and everything. His bets range from frog jumping contests and dogfights to horse races and even occurrences like whether a certain person will recover from an illness.

To determine the most surprising aspect of Jim Smiley's betting, we need to consider which option best suits the character described in the story.

Option a. suggests that the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting is his success. However, it is important to note that the story does not suggest that Jim Smiley was particularly successful in his gambling ventures. In fact, the story highlights how he often lost bets due to various unforeseen circumstances.

Option b. suggests that the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting is his lack of success. This option aligns with the portrayal of the character in the story, as he is frequently portrayed as losing his bets due to situations beyond his control. This makes b. a plausible answer.

Option c. suggests that the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting is his cheerful attitude about it. While it is true that Jim Smiley maintains a positive and optimistic attitude throughout the story, this aspect of his character is not particularly surprising or emphasized as the most unexpected aspect of his betting.

Option d. suggests that the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting is the range of things on which he would bet. Given that Jim Smiley places bets on a wide variety of events and circumstances, this option also appears to be a valid choice.

Based on the information provided, it seems that options b. or d. could potentially be the correct answer. To make a final determination, it would be helpful to review the specific details and language used in the story to see if there are any hints or indications that lean towards one choice over the other.