Question

Read this excerpt from the story "There’s a Man in the Habit of Hitting Me on the Head with an Umbrella" and answer the question.

EXCERPT: I took the first seat. He stood right beside me, and held on to the railing with his left hand. With his right hand he unrelentingly kept whacking me with that umbrella. At first, the passengers exchanged timid smiles. The driver began to observe us in the rearview mirror. Little by little the bus trip turned into one great fit of laughter, an uproarious, interminable fit of laughter. I was burning with shame. My persecutor, impervious to the laughter, continued to strike me.

According to the narrator, the passengers witness his attacker hitting him, which is NOT usually a humorous event. In this excerpt the passengers most likely laughed because they _____. Select all that apply.

A)shared an inside joke about the narrator with the bus driver
B)assumed that the two men were promoting a local comedy show
C)thought the umbrella was a hilarious way to get a man’s attention
D)observed the narrator acting as if an invisible opponent were assaulting him
E)were witnessing a scene that caused a nervous discomfort relieved by laughter
F)had recently endured a similar interaction on the bus between a parent and child

Answer 1

D) observed the narrator acting as if an invisible opponent were assaulting him

E) were witnessing a scene that caused a nervous discomfort relieved by laughter

I'm 100% sure- just took the test and looked back at my answers. :)