Question

Read the following passage and answer the question. "I'm not sleepy," said Rainsford. "I'm going to smoke another pipe on the afterdeck." … Rainsford, reclining in a steamer chair, indolently puffed on his favorite brier. The sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him. In the previous passage, which words give us a clue as to what indolently means?

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Sensuous drowsiness.

Explanation:

Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" revolves around the theme of hunter and prey. The complicated relationship of the hunter and the hunted, the conflict for survival and the need to hunt are all seen in the story.

The given passage is from the initial parts of the story where Sanger Rainsford and his friend Whitney are on the steamer on their way to the hunting expedition. From the passage, the use of the word "indolently" can be  understood from the words "sensuous drowsiness", which suggests that he is adverse to the very word.

Here, he is shown to be not sleepy, but then the next sentence follows with the word "sensuous drowsiness of the night" which is contrary to each other.

Answer 2

"I'm not sleepy," said Rainsford. "I'm going to smoke another pipe on the afterdeck."

…

Rainsford, reclining in a steamer chair, indolently puffed on his favorite brier. The sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him.

In the previous passage, what does the word brier refer to?

a chair
the afterdeck
a pipe
sleep