Question

Read the sentences from paragraph 14. “But surely the Red Cross cleared out ages ago, and the whole place has been done up? I saw the paperhangers there in June.” What is the significance to Ingred of the “place” mentioned in the passage? A. It is Ingred’s family home which had been occupied by wartime personnel. B. It is the town where Ingred lives, which has a Red Cross military hospital. C. It is a popular ballroom that has been undergoing renovations in preparation for a dance. D. It is one of the new buildings at Ingred’s school, where she dreads returning.

Short answer

The significance to Ingred of the "place" mentioned in the passage is: A. It is Ingred's family home which had been occupied by wartime personnel.

Step-by-step solution

Read the passage and gather information

Carefully read the passage from paragraph 14: “But surely the Red Cross cleared out ages ago, and the whole place has been done up? I saw the paperhangers there in June.” We can gather from this passage that: 1. The Red Cross was once inside the place. 2. The place has been renovated (the speaker saw paperhangers there in June).

Analyze the four options

We will go through each of the options given: A. It is Ingred’s family home which had been occupied by wartime personnel. - This option fits well with the information we gathered in Step 1 about the Red Cross and renovations. B. It is the town where Ingred lives, which has a Red Cross military hospital. - This option doesn't fit the given information, as the passage suggests the Red Cross has cleared out, not that it is still present in a military hospital. C. It is a popular ballroom that has been undergoing renovations in preparation for a dance. - While this option matches the renovation aspect mentioned in the passage, it doesn't account for the Red Cross being there before. D. It is one of the new buildings at Ingred’s school, where she dreads returning. - Similar to option C, this option only accounts for the renovations but not the Red Cross presence.

Choose the best-suited option

Based on the analysis in Step 2, we can see that option A (It is Ingred’s family home which had been occupied by wartime personnel) best fits the information given in the passage. Therefore, we can conclude that the significance to Ingred of the “place” mentioned in the passage is: A. It is Ingred’s family home which had been occupied by wartime personnel.

Key concepts

Inference Skills

Inference skills are essential when reading between the lines. They help us discover what is not explicitly stated but implied in a text. In the context of the original exercise, these skills come into play when analyzing the passage mentioning the Red Cross and renovations. While the text doesn't directly state what the place is, clues are dropped for us to infer its significance to Ingred.

When you make inferences:

• Pay attention to details that hint at deeper meanings or background stories.
• Use context clues to fill gaps left by the author.
• Ask yourself what makes the most logical sense based on the information provided.

Inference allows readers to connect scattered pieces of information and come to a conclusion. In our case, recognizing that "ages ago" implies a long time since the Red Cross left helps us infer the changes that have happened since their departure.

Contextual Understanding

Contextual understanding involves interpreting a passage by considering the surrounding situation or background information. In the exercise, recognizing the importance of renovations and the reference to the Red Cross can deepen our comprehension of the text's setting and dynamics.

To bolster your contextual understanding:

• Consider the historical or temporal setting. Here, the reference to past wartime activities suggests the event's significance in Ingred's life.
• Think about the relationships between characters or places. Understanding Ingred's potential emotional connection to the place can help determine the best answer.
• Correlate the passage with the known facts from the rest of the text, like previous mentions of renovations or occupations.

Context acts as the backdrop that colors the narrative, helping readers find not just what is said but understanding why certain details deeply matter.

Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking is crucial for dissecting information and making informed decisions. In tackling the original exercise, we used analytical thinking to evaluate each provided option thoroughly and decided which option aligns best with the given evidence.

To analytically assess text:

• Break down each part of the passage and see how they interact with each choice - a systemic comparison can reveal subtle distinctions not obvious at first glance.
• Critically assess each possible outcome in relation to the facts. For example, if the Red Cross had cleared out, options involving their current presence are likely incorrect.
• Consider the goal or question, such as whose significance we're determining and why.

Using analysis, we assert option A as the best answer — it fits past and present context and suggests the deepest personal significance for Ingred, as inferred from the clues.