'How are you today?' I asked.
'Oh! much better,' she replied and immediately changed the subject.
Mostly she liked to talk about her pets and the ones she had known right back to her girlhood. She spoke a lot too, about the days her family was alive. She loved to describe the escapades of her three brothers and today she showed me a photograph which Mrs. Broadwith had found.
'Oh, they were young rips!' she exclaimed. She laughed and for a moment her face was radiant, by her memories.
The things I had heard in the village came back to me; about the prosperous father and his family who lived in the big house once. Then the foreign investments crashed and the sudden change in circumstances. 'When the old father died, he was almost penniless, one old man said. "There is not much brass there now."
Probably just enough brass to keep Miss Stubbs and her animals alive and pay Mrs. Broadwith. And, sitting there, I felt as I had often a bit afraid of the responsibility I had. The one thing which brought some light into the life of the brave old woman was the devotion of this shaggy bunch whose eyes were never far from her face.
Miss Stubbs led a very simple life because_____
Miss Stubbs' Simple Life Explained
The question asks for the reason behind Miss Stubbs leading a very simple life, based on the provided narrative. The text offers several clues about her past and present circumstances that help explain her lifestyle.
Analysis of the Text
The passage describes Miss Stubbs' family history, mentioning a "prosperous father" and a time when they lived in a "big house". However, this changed dramatically due to unforeseen events:
- "Then the foreign investments crashed and the sudden change in circumstances." This indicates a significant financial downturn for the family.
- "When the old father died, he was almost penniless," one villager stated. This confirms the loss of wealth and the father's inability to leave a substantial inheritance.
- The narrator observes, "There is not much brass there now." The term "brass" is used colloquially to mean money or wealth.
- The narrator further reflects, "Probably just enough brass to keep Miss Stubbs and her animals alive and pay Mrs. Broadwith." This suggests that Miss Stubbs' financial resources were extremely limited, barely covering essential living costs and the help she received.
Evaluating the Options
Based on the textual evidence, we can assess the given options:
- Option 1: The text does not state Miss Stubbs' personal beliefs about luxury. Her simple life seems dictated by necessity rather than choice or philosophy.
- Option 2: While the passage mentions memories and potentially sad aspects of her life, it doesn't suggest she was too sad to enjoy simple pleasures. In fact, she laughed and showed a photograph, indicating moments of engagement.
- Option 3: This option aligns directly with the textual evidence. The descriptions of the family's financial crash, the father being "almost penniless," and having "just enough brass" strongly imply that Miss Stubbs lacked the funds for anything beyond basic necessities and perhaps small comforts, meaning she couldn't afford even normal little luxuries.
- Option 4: The text contradicts this option. Miss Stubbs is depicted as being visited, conversing, and even laughing, which does not suggest she was bed-ridden or bitter. Mrs. Broadwith bringing tea implies Miss Stubbs is mobile enough to receive visitors.
Conclusion on Miss Stubbs' Lifestyle
The narrative strongly suggests that Miss Stubbs' simple way of life was a direct consequence of her family's financial ruin. The loss of wealth meant she had very limited funds, making it difficult to afford anything beyond the essentials. Therefore, the most accurate reason is that she could not afford even the normal little luxuries.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
