Question

Reread the following section.

Sometimes it is the other way around. A white person is set down in our midst, but the contrast is just as sharp for me. For instance, when I sit in the drafty basement that is The New World Cabaret with a white person, my color comes. We enter chatting about any little nothing that we have in common and are seated by the jazz waiters. In the abrupt way that jazz orchestras have, this one plunges into a number. It loses no time in circumlocutions, but gets right down to business. It constricts the thorax and splits the heart with its tempo and narcotic harmonies. This orchestra grows rambunctious, rears on its hind legs and attacks the tonal veil with primitive fury, rending it, clawing it until it breaks through to the jungle beyond. I follow those heathen—follow them exultingly. I dance wildly inside myself; I yell within, I whoop; I shake my assegai above my head, I hurl it true to the mark yeeeeooww! I am in the jungle and living in the jungle way. My face is painted red and yellow and my body is painted blue. My pulse is throbbing like a war drum. I want to slaughter something—give pain, give death to what, I do not know. But the piece ends. The men of the orchestra wipe their lips and rest their fingers. I creep back slowly to the veneer we call civilization with the last tone and find the white friend sitting motionless in his seat, smoking calmly.

Question
Which sentence in paragraph 11 most effectively expresses Hurston's physical connection with the music at The New World Cabaret?
Select one:
a. "We enter chatting about any little nothing that we have in common and are seated by the jazz waiters."
b. "I hurl it true to the mark yeeeooww!"
c. "I am in the jungle and living in the jungle way."
d. "My pulse is throbbing like a war drum."

Answer 1

The sentence in paragraph 11 that most effectively expresses Hurston's physical connection with the music at The New World Cabaret is: "My pulse is throbbing like a war drum." (option D).

Step-by-step explanation:

In paragraph 11, the sentence "My pulse is throbbing like a war drum" most vividly conveys Hurston's physical connection with the music at The New World Cabaret (option D). This metaphorical comparison between her pulse and a war drum indicates the intense and rhythmic impact the music has on her body. The use of "throbbing" suggests a palpable, visceral response, emphasizing the profound effect the music has on her physical being.

The selection of this sentence is based on its powerful imagery and the sensory experience it evokes. The metaphorical language paints a picture of the music penetrating Hurston's body, creating a dynamic connection that goes beyond mere auditory appreciation. The choice of words, such as "war drum," adds cultural and emotional layers to the description, emphasizing the transformative and almost ritualistic nature of her experience with the music.

Hurston's physical reactions, as expressed in this sentence, highlight the immersive and transformative quality of the musical experience at The New World Cabaret. It not only captures the intensity of her emotional response but also underscores the cultural and spiritual dimensions of the musical encounter, illustrating how music can transcend boundaries and deeply affect an individual on a profound level.