Question

Read these stage directions from Eugene O'Neill's play The Straw.

Act One

Scene One: The Kitchen of the Carmody Home--Evening.
Scene Two: The Reception Room of the Infirmary, Hill Farm
Sanatorium--An Evening a Week Later.

Act Two

Scene One: Assembly Room of the Main Building at the Sanatorium--A Morning Four Months Later.
Scene Two: A Crossroads Near the Sanatorium--Midnight of the Same Day.

Act Three

An Isolation Room and Porch at the Sanatorium--An Afternoon Four Months Later.

TIME--1910

Which of these can be determined from these scene descriptions?

There are two scenes in each Act.
The play takes place over the course of four months.
One of the Carmodys' children is sick.
Much of the action of the play takes place at a Sanatorium.

Answer 1

I believe that the answer would instead be;

Much of the action of the play takes place at a Sanatorium.

The Sanatorium is seen at the end of Act One, all throughout Act Two, and all throughout Act Three.

Step-by-step explanation:

The previous answer says "The play takes place over the course of four months.", but the 3 acts in total take place across around 8 months and a week, as Act One is across a week, Act Two is across 4 months, and Act Three is across 4 months. So that answer is wrong.

The option "There are two scenes in each Act.", is wrong because the 3rd Act doesn't have 2 scenes.

The option "One of the Carmodys' children is sick.", is incorrect as it never discusses the children in this excerpt.

Answer 2

B: The play takes place over the course of four months.

Step-by-step explanation:

I'm 95% sure I'm right on this. It can't be A because there are not two scenes in act 3. I don't think it would be C because a Sanatorium isn't just for kids. I don't think it would be D because only one scene actually took place in the Sanatorium, the other scenes were just in the vicinity. I'm pretty sure it's B, but you can decide if you want to go with that answer. I really, really hope this helps. I'm so very sorry if my answer is wrong. Have a great day and good luck. :D