Question

Read this excerpt from The Miracle Worker.

ANAGNOS: . . . It will no doubt be difficult for you there, Annie. But it has been difficult for you at our school too, hm? Gratifying, yes, when you came to us and could not spell your name, to accomplish so much here in a few years, but always an Irish battle. For independence.

(He studies ANNIE, humorously; she does not open her eyes.)

This is my last time to counsel you, Annie, and you do lack some – by some I mean all – what, tact or talent to bend. To others. And what had saved you on more than one occasion here at Perkins is that there was nowhere to expel you to. Your eyes hurt?

ANNIE: My ears, Mr. Anagnos.

(And now she has opened her eyes; they are inflamed. Vague, slightly crossed, clouded by the granular growth of trachoma, and she often keeps them closed to shut out the pain of light.)

ANAGNOS [SEVERELY]: Nowhere but back to Tewksbury, where children learn to be saucy. Annie, I know how dreadful it was there, but that battle is dead and done with, why not let it stay buried?

Which of these statements provides the best summary of the scene?

A. Anagnos notices that Annie’s eyes are closed, and he discusses her life in Tewksbury and her time at Perkins.
B. Anagnos praises Annie’s work at Perkins and mentions her previous time in Tewksbury, a town on the Ipswich River.
C. Anagnos is cruel as he expresses doubts about Annie’s ability to leave Perkins and begin teaching.
D. Anagnos describes Annie’s progress at Perkins and her strong will, and he expresses concerns about her attitude.

Answer 1

Anagnos and Annie discuss her time at Perkins and her past in Tewksbury, highlighting her lack of tact and her battle for independence, which will be relevant in her future position.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scene from The Miracle Worker described in the question shows a dialogue between Annie and Anagnos. Anagnos observes Annie, noting her struggles and achievements at Perkins School, and discusses her past in Tewksbury. He humorously points out her lack of tact, her battle for independence, and her resolute nature that has at times saved her from expulsion. Annie's response, pointing to her ears when asked if her eyes hurt, indicates her discomfort with the praise and perhaps her uneasiness towards patronizing sympathy. This interchange highlights Annie's character and foreshadows the challenges she will face in her new position. Anagnos is not cruel in his remarks but does express concerns about her temperament and how it might impact her future work.

Answer 2

B

Step-by-step explanation: