Unit 6: New Ideas, New Voices

"A Cup of Tea"

In the first five paragraphs, what can you infer about the shopkeeper?

• He has a secret crush on Rosemary.

• He uses flattery to sell expensive things to rich people.

• He isn’t very interested in money.

• He wishes he didn’t have to sell his things.

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"A Cup of Tea"

Which sentence suggests Rosemary’s motivation for taking Miss Smith home with her?

• “M-madam,” stammered the voice. “Would you let me have the price of a cup of tea?”

• There was something simple, sincere in that voice; it wasn’t in the least the voice of a beggar.

• It was like something out of a novel by Dostoyevsky, this meeting in the dusk.

• And she heard herself saying afterwards to the amazement of her friends: “I simply took her home with me . . . .”

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"A Cup of Tea"

How does Rosemary’s husband convince her to send the girl away?

• He plays on her insecurity about her looks.

• He embarrasses her for not reading the paper.

• He scolds her about money.

• He flatters her need to feel superior.

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"A Cup of Tea"

In paragraph 1, Mansfield uses contrast to describe some of Rosemary’s guests as quaint and terrifying, while others are quite presentable. In this description of Rosemary’s parties, the connotation of the word presentable is —

• notable or famous

• respected and admired

• clean and neat

• interesting or engaging

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"A Cup of Tea"

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

But if Rosemary wanted to shop she would go to Paris as you and I would go to Bond Street.

The author most likely includes this allusion to emphasize that Paris is —

• a place far away from Great Britain

• the capital and largest city of France

• an expensive and fashionable place

• a city of romance and excitement

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"A Cup of Tea"

Read these sentences from paragraph 8.

But the shopman had already bowed as though keeping it for her was all any human being could ask. He would be willing, of course, to keep it for her forever.

The reader can infer that the shopkeeper is —

• too timid and afraid to say no to a wealthy customer such as Rosemary

• humoring Rosemary but will display the box in the shop as soon as she leaves

• certain that Rosemary is the only one of his customers worthy of owning the box

• confident Rosemary will ultimately purchase the enamel box

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"A Cup of Tea"

Read Philip and Rosemary’s dialogue from paragraphs 58 and 59.

“My darling girl,” said Philip, “you’re quite mad, you know. It simply can’t be done.”

“I knew you’d say that,” retorted Rosemary.

What does this exchange suggest about the historical and social setting of the story?

• In early twentieth-century British society, people of different social classes were expected not to mix

• Husbands in Great Britain in the early 1900s felt free to insult their wives.

• In early twentieth-century British society, wives were expected not to argue with their husbands.

• Wealthy people in Great Britain in the early 1900s viewed poor people as servants or beggars.

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"A Cup of Tea"

The reader can conclude that Rosemary —

• is confused when the poor girl starts to cry

• is angered when Philip tells her picking up the poor girl was a mistake

• is hurt when Philip says he thinks the poor girl is pretty

• is offended when the poor girl decides to leave before dinner

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"A Cup of Tea"

How does the author’s use of narrative point of view evolve as the story proceeds?

• Mansfield starts out using the third-person limited, but later she widens the narrative perspective to omniscient.

• Mansfield uses the third-person to introduce Rosemary’s point of view first but then switches to Philip’s point of view.

• Mansfield’s use of third person mainly describes Rosemary at first but then begins to disclose her thoughts.

• Mansfield primarily uses the third person, but occasionally she switches to second person to address the reader

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"Shooting an Elephant"

Which of the following "got on [the] nerves" of the narrator?

• The elephant’s destruction of trees

• How the Burmans mocked soldiers

• The weather in Asia

• His small gun

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