He wasn't intellectually gifted but he was not necessarily a fool
Answer:
useless, in vain maybe
Explanation:
Morose means being sullen or ill tempered, so a morose person might think that all attempts are useless, probably in an ill tempered manner.
Answer: Defensive listening
Explanation: When from some really innocent and not malicious comment someone made to us, in case Anne made that comment to Mary and Mary realised that as the attack ti her, then it was defensive listening. Mary made the wrong impression and answered sharply, and Anne did not deserve it. This can occur in a case, such as Mary, frustration or simply tension caused by a factor and not related to the person who made the innocent comment or question.
I say 1 1/2 yards because you need to subtract 4 3/8 by 2 7/8. If you do subtract you would get 2 and -4/8 so you have you take away one from two which would be 1 4/8. Since 4+4 = 8 it would equal half so that the complete answer would be 1 1/2.