UNSEEN PROSE
Read the passage and answer the following question
The message was unambiguous: her John was on his way back. For how long had he been gone? Jenny wondered.
She wrung her hands in silent expectation. She stood, turned about, and sat, motionless. She was listening in the silence of the room and looking into the gloom of the unlit room.
She seemed to pull herself together as she rose to her full height, switched on the light and turned on the TV, to no station in particular, selecting no programme at all. She sat in front of the TV, not watching. Her heart was pounding, slowly, she hoisted herself from the armchair and moved towards the kitchen, like one sleepwalking.
She must get some food ready for the sojourner. Her rapid heartbeat did not show in her slow-motion actions. Her cooking done, Jenny was carrying the dish on a tray to the dining table when the doorbell rang. Jenny dropped the tray.
The mood is one of
-
anxiety
- despondency
- sorrow
- regret
The correct answer is: A
Explanation
The passage conveys a strong sense of nervous anticipation as Jenny awaits John’s return. Her actions—**wringing her hands, pacing, turning on the TV without watching, moving mechanically like a sleepwalker—**all suggest heightened tension and restlessness.
The pounding of her heart further emphasizes her anxiety. Her slow-motion actions and the tray dropping when the doorbell rings indicate emotional pressure building up.