Question

Read the excerpt from “A Century Ride.” “Great Scott!” he stammered, “what’s the matter? Surely ’tisn’t Mrs. Dunlop?” and he gaped at the dusty little lady, who sat on the door-step, and the wheel which lay on the roadway. “I’m choking with thirst,” said Maude. “Get me a drink of water, and I’ll tell you,” and the Doctor bounced in for a dipper, and out to the pump for the required beverage. “Don’t take much,” he stammered incoherently. “I’ve put a drop of whiskey in it. Now tell me, in the name of Heaven, what sent you riding across the country in this fashion?” Which best explains the context clues for and the correct meaning of “incoherently”?

Answer 1

I believe the answer is Based on the context clues "stammered," "gaped," and "in the name of Heaven," the word "incoherently" means "in a confused manner."

Answer 2

Incoherent means that something is expressed in a way that cannot be understand well or is confusing in either written or spoken speech. Of the given manners (eager, angry, nervous, and confused), the one that best fits with this definition would be confused manner. Therefore, we can infer that based on the context clues "stammered", "gaped", and "in the name of Heaven" that the word "incoherently" means in a confused manner.