Question

Read these lines from the poem.

To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
Why does the father tell a story?
A) To distract the speaker as he pulls the splinter
B) To teach the speaker how to avoid splinters in the future
C) To warn the speaker about the sting he might feel
D) To share his own experience with getting a splinter

Answer 1

The father tells a story to distract the speaker from the pain of pulling out a splinter, making option A) to distract the speaker as he pulls the splinter the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The father tells a story to A) distract the speaker as he pulls the splinter. By reciting a story in a low voice, the father aims to divert the speaker's attention away from the pain and discomfort of removing a metal splinter from the palm. The story serves as a form of comfort and distraction for the speaker. It provides a soothing and calming effect, making the splinter removal process more bearable.

The father tells a story to distract the speaker as he pulls the splinter from the speaker's palm. This method of distraction is a common technique used to ease a patient's discomfort during a potentially painful procedure. It serves as an emotional anesthesia, turning the patient's attention away from the pain and towards the narrative being told.

This tool of diversion is employed instead of the other options because it is immediate, it does not need to address future prevention (Option B), it avoids confronting the speaker with the potential pain (Option C), and it is not focused on sharing a similar experience (Option D). Therefore, the correct option is A) To distract the speaker as he pulls the splinter.