Question

Which words from paragraph 1 best help the reader understand the use of the word bonnets?

Our first year in New York we rented a small apartment with a Catholic school nearby, taught by the Sisters of Charity, hefty women in long black gowns and bonnets that made them look peculiar, like dolls in mourning. I liked them a lot, especially my grandmotherly fourth grade teacher, Sister Zoe. I had a lovely name, she said, and she had me teach the whole class how to pronounce it. Yo-lan-da. As the only immigrant in my class, I was put in a special seat in the first row by the window, apart from the other children so that Şister Zoe could tutor me without disturbing them. Slowly, she enunciated the new words I was to repeat: laundromat, cornflakes, subway, snow.
a) apartment and school
b) immigrant and New York City
c) teacher and children
d) dolls and gowns

Answer 1

The words 'dolls' and 'gowns' best assist in comprehending the use of 'bonnets', as they describe the Sisters of Charity's attire and suggest a traditional, formal style.

Step-by-step explanation:

The words that best help the reader understand the use of the word 'bonnets' in paragraph 1 are 'dolls' and 'gowns'. These words describe the Sisters of Charity and provide context to imagine the type of bonnets being referred to. The phrase 'like dolls in mourning' helps readers visualize the nuns in their traditional, somber attire, which includes the distinctive bonnets. Similarly, the word 'gowns' emphasizes the formal and old-fashioned aspect of their clothing, suggesting a style that is not current but is fitting for their role.