Question

"One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent ^imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas."

Why did the author use this paragraph to open his story?
A. It produces tension that foreshadows later events in the story.
B. It slows the pace of the story so events do not proceed too quickly.
C. It creates a conversational tone, as if someone were telling the story aloud.
D. It reveals important information about one of the story's important characters.

Answer 1

The paragraph is used to establish the main character's financial struggles and socioeconomic status, setting up a foundation for their upcoming decisions and actions that drive the story.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author used this paragraph to open his story to reveal important information about one of the story's important characters. The description of meticulously counting the small sum of money and the anxiety of facing Christmas with such limited resources not only establishes the financial struggle and character's socioeconomic status but also sets the premise for their decisions and actions that follow. The emphasis on economy and the character's relationship with money are recurring themes in literature that explore the human condition and personal values, as shown in various narrative excerpts provided.