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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers ID: #2917 elephant
Instructions ›
Read the text and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. You will need to select more than one response.
But I did not want to shoot the elephant. I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with the preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have. It seemed to me that it would be murder to shoot him. I had never shot an elephant and never wanted to. Besides, there was the beast's owner to be considered. But I had got to act quickly. I turned to some experienced-looking Barman’s who had been there when we arrived, and asked them how the elephants had been behaving. They all said the same thing; he took no notice of you if you left him alone, but he might charge if you went too close to him.

The phrase 'Preoccupied grandmotherly air' signifies and author did not want to shoot the elephant because

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Option 3: "Kind and considerate"

Explanation: This option correctly captures the essence of the phrase. The 'grandmotherly air' suggests a nurturing and gentle demeanor, which aligns with the author's reluctance to shoot the elephant, as he perceives it as a kind creature deserving of consideration.

Option 1: "Pretending to be very busy"

Explanation: This option suggests that the elephant is merely acting busy, which does not align with the author's description. The phrase 'preoccupied grandmotherly air' implies a deeper, more affectionate quality rather than just pretending to be busy.

Option 2: "A very superior attitude"

Explanation: This option misinterprets the tone of the phrase. The author's use of 'grandmotherly air' conveys warmth and gentleness, not superiority. Therefore, this option does not accurately reflect the author's feelings about the elephant.

Option 4: "A worried man"

Explanation: This option incorrectly attributes a human emotion to the elephant. The phrase 'preoccupied grandmotherly air' does not imply worry but rather a calm and gentle presence, which contradicts the notion of being worried.

Option 5: "Possessed with good things"

Explanation: This option reflects the positive connotation of the phrase. The 'grandmotherly air' suggests that the elephant embodies kindness and gentleness, reinforcing the author's view that shooting him would be unjust.

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