Question

Read the excerpt from Black Boy.

When I awakened one morning my mother told me that we were going to see a judge who would make my father support me and my brother. An hour later all three of us were sitting in a huge crowded room. I was overwhelmed by the many faces and the voices which I could not understand. High above me was a white face which my mother told me was the face of the judge. Across the huge room sat my father, smiling confidently, looking at us. My mother warned me not to be fooled by my father’s friendly manner; she told me that the judge might ask me questions, and if he did I must tell him the truth. I agreed, yet I hoped that the judge would not ask me anything.

A. Which details from the excerpt best indicates that Wright was fairly young when this event takes place?
B. Wright describes his father’s “friendly manner” and demeanor.
C. Wright notes being overwhelmed by faces and voices and describes the judge as being “high above.”
D. Wright describes his mother waking him to go to court and waiting in a “huge crowded room.”
Wright explains his worry about the possibility of the judge asking him questions.

Answer 1

Answer: C. Wright notes being overwhelmed by faces and voices and describes the judge as being “high above.”

In this excerpt, it is clear that Wright is discussing an experience that happened when he was still quite young. He notes that the voices and faces made him feel overwhelmed. This is likely to occur with a child who is not as comfortable with strangers and noises as an adult. It is also noted that Wright sees the judge as being "high above." This implies Wright is not very tall, which would be true of a child.

Answer 2

The correct option is: WRIGHT NOTES BEING OVERWHELMED BY FACES AND VOICES AND DESCRIBES THE JUDGE AS BEING 'HIGH ABOVE'. This details from the excerpt shows that he was still quite young at the time he followed him mother to the court room.