Section: Reasoning Through Language Arts

56)

The following is an example of a famous narrative written by John Updike, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu":

"The afternoon grew so glowering that in the sixth inning the arc lights were turned on--always a wan sight in the daytime, like the burning headlights of a funeral procession. Aided by the gloom, Fisher was slicing through the Sox rookies, and Williams did not come to bat in the seventh. He was second up in the eighth. This was almost certainly his last time to come to the plate in Fenway Park, and instead of merely cheering, as we had at his three previous appearances, we stood, all of us, and applauded."

Choose the option that best describes the mood of the scene. 

1. Somber and desperate
2. Joyful and elated
3. Bored and meaningless
4. Fun and carefree

The descriptive words of the passage -- "glowering," "wan," comparing the arc lights during the day like headlights on a funeral procession -- add up to a day that seems like it isn't going too well for the Sox. When Williams comes up the final time at Fenway Park, the crowd reacts more strongly than they did before. They're hopeful, yes, but when combined with the somber mood of the rest of the passage, it's clear that hope is overshadowed by a prevailing emotion of desperation. They want so badly for this at-bat to be special that they're willing to change their entire behavior as if that might help.