Question

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking as it seemed from Bramble Hurst railway station, and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. Which adjective best describes the setting that the words in this sentence help to evoke?

a) cozy

b) dreamlike

c) dull

d) harsh

(Explain why this is the answer)

Answer 1

Harsh

The writer used the words ‘wintry’, ‘biting’ and ‘thickly’ to express a sense of a harsh winter. In addition, “walking as it seemed from Brumble Hurst” gives a sense that the stranger walked a long way, which isn’t comfortable or cozy, but rather tiring.