Question

Read the passage

boots is not part of the ordinary routine o life over here."
"You have lost one of your boots?"
"My dear sir," cried Dr. Mortimer, "It is only mistaid. You will find it when you return to the hotel. What is the use of troubling Mr. Holmes
with trifles of this kind?"
"Well, he asked me for anything outside the ordinary routine."
"Exactly," said Holmes, "however foolish the incident may seerh. You have lost one of your boots, you say?"
"Well, mislald it, anyhow. I put them both outside my door last night, and there was only one in the morning, I could get no sense out of
the chap who cleans them. The worst of it is that I only bought the pair last night in the Strand, and I have never had them on."
"If you have never worn them, why did you put them out to be cleaned?"
"They were tan boots and had never been varnished. That was why I put them out."
"Then I understand that on your arrival in London yesterday you went out at once and bought a pair of boots?"
"I did a good deal of shopping. Dr. Mortimer here went round with me. You see, if I am to be squire down there must dress the part, and
it may be that I have got a little careless in my ways out West. Among other things I bought these brown boots-gave six dollars for them-and
had one stolen before ever I had them on my feet."
"It seems a singularly useless thing to steal," said Sherlock Holmes, "l confess that I share Dr. Mortimer's belief that it will not be long
before the missing boot is found."
Which is the author most likely foreshadowing in this passage by focusing on the missing boot?
1. Dr. Mortimer will confess that he took the boot in order to replace one of his
2. Although appearing to be trivial, the missing boot will turn out to be significant
3. Sir Henry will begin to lose each of his shirts and jackets during his stay in Britain.
4. Sherlock Holmes will realize that asking questions does not help to solve mysteries,

Answer 1

The author is foreshadowing a significant plot development related to the missing boot, which, though trivial now, will prove important later.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author is most likely foreshadowing a significant event or revelation tied to the missing boot in the passage. Sherlock Holmes hints at the importance of the seemingly trivial detail, suggesting that while the incident may appear foolish, it is likely that the boot will prove to be of consequence later in the story. This attention to a minor detail is a common literary technique used by authors to set up future plot developments that may initially seem inconsequential but are actually pivotal to the narrative.