Read the following passage from "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck.
"I'm off my general road, ma'am," he said. "Does this dirt road cut over across the river to the Los Angeles highway?"
Elisa stood up and shoved the thick scissors in her apron pocket. "Well, yes, it does, but it winds around and then fords the river. I don't think your team could pull through the sand."
He replied with some asperity: "It might surprise you what them beasts can pull through."
The fact that the man replied to Elisa with asperity shows that Elisa's comment about his horses (1 point)
worried him.
confused him.
offended him.
flattered him.