Michelle highlighted this sentence in her favorite Western paperback novel: “The bandit weaseled his way through the throng of w
omen in hoop skirts and petticoats, making it nearly impossible for the sheriff and his posse to catch him before he hopped on the train.” How does the word “weaseled” contribute to the tone of the sentence? A It shows the author’s sympathy for the bandit. B It shows the author’s disdain for the bandit and his actions. C It provides a concrete description of the bandit’s appearance. D It provides a point of comparison so the reader can better understand the bandit.
Answer: C. It provides a concrete description of the bandit’s appearance.
Explanation: In literature, writers can use a wide variety of words to portray a character's actions or personality. The reader then imagines a scene that is closer to what the writer has in mind. Michelle used the verb "weasel" to contribute to the tone of the sentence, and imply that not only was the bandit passing through women, but he was sneaking and achieving his purpose by rudely making his way and scaping. This choice creates a better description of how he appeared in the scene.
