Meaning:the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong.
Other meaning: a grave crime or sin.
Answer:
Before Della and Jim exchange gifts, the reader sees anxiety between them about the fact that Della cut her hair. When the characters exchange gifts, the reader and the characters see the situational irony of the moment. Both characters sacrificed something they deeply valued to buy something the other would value. Yet what the characters sell makes the gifts they receive useless. The exchange of the gifts is the climax because the story revolves around the purchase of these gifts and what they represent. The story is resolved when the characters realize that their presents are materially useless but symbolize the deep love they share.
This would be the climax of the story because we are anticipating the reactions of both of the lovers. The falling acting would be after this, when they accept each others sacrifice for each other and enjoy a Christmas meal together.
DETAILS is the only thing not to highlet alright i just took the test hope this helps you.
Answer: I would contend that the right answer is actually "to fake."
Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that one of the meanings of the verb to affect is to feign, which can be translated as to pretend or to give a false appearance of something. If the character was trying to "conceal certain inconvenient emotions" which, nevertheless, "seemed inclined to assert themselves" by affecting high spirits, he was, therefore, faking those high spirits, in order to hide his true feelings from the people who had just arrived.
