Question

Under my window, a clean rasping sound When the spade sinks into gravelly ground: My father, digging. I look down –"Digging,” Seamus Heaney Which statement best explains the effect of the word clean in this passage? It shows that the speaker does not like farming because he dislikes getting dirty. It draws attention to the differences between the speaker and his father. It suggests that the speaker finds the sound of digging to be pleasant and wholesome. It emphasizes that the speaker has many chores to do around the farm.

Answer 1

Answer: The right answer is the C) It suggests that the speaker finds the sound of digging to be pleasant and wholesome.

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that, as an adjective, the word "clean" describes the sound that the speaker heard, and he does not suggest that he dislikes getting dirty, so option A should be discarded. In addition, "clean" has a positive connotation—it can mean healthy, pure, fair, complete, skillful, clear, and smooth, for instance—so it does not suggest that there are differences between the father and the son, or that the son has many chores to do. The right option is, therefore, the C. The speaker seems to find the sound that his father makes when he sinks the spade into gravelly sound as a crystal-clear and healthy sound.          

Answer 2

 It suggests that the speaker finds the sound of digging to be pleasant and wholesome