Question

Read this excerpt from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and complete the sentences that follow. "What did you say?" inquired Oliver, looking up very quickly. "A regular right-down bad 'un, Work'us," replied Noah, coolly. "And it's a great deal better, Work'us, that she died when she did, or else she'd have been hard labouring in Bridewell, or transported, or hung; which is more likely than either, isn't it?" Crimson with fury, Oliver started up; overthrew the chair and table; seized Noah by the throat; shook him, in the violence of his rage, till his teeth chattered in his head; and collecting his whole force into one heavy blow, felled him to the ground. A minute ago, the boy had looked the quiet child, mild, dejected creature that harsh treatment had made him. But his spirit was roused at last; the cruel insult to his dead mother had set his blood on fire. His breast heaved; his attitude was erect; his eye bright and vivid; his whole person changed, as he stood glaring over the cowardly tormentor who now lay crouching at his feet; and defied him with an energy he had never known before. "He'll murder me!" blubbered Noah. "Charlotte! missis! Here's the new boy a murdering of me! Help! help! Oliver's gone mad! Char—lotte!" […] "Oh, you little wretch!" screamed Charlotte: seizing Oliver with her utmost force, which was about equal to that of a moderately strong man in particularly good training. "Oh, you little un-grate-ful, mur-de-rous, hor-rid villain!" And between every syllable, Charlotte gave Oliver a blow with all her might: accompanying it with a scream, for the benefit of society. Charlotte's fist was by no means a light one; but, lest it should not be effectual in calming Oliver's wrath, Mrs. Sowerberry plunged into the kitchen, and assisted to hold him with one hand, while she scratched his face with the other. In this favourable position of affairs, Noah rose from the ground, and pommelled him behind. In this excerpt, Oliver is presented as( ) . Charlotte is shown to be a woman who is( ) . In the last two paragraphs of the excerpt, the reader is left to infer that Charlotte, Mrs. Sowerberry, and Noah are( ) Oliver.

Answer 1

Answer: 1.- Oliver is presented as a juvenile criminal.

2.- Charlotte is shown to be a woman who is strong enough to make people respect her.

3.- In the last two paragraphs of the excerpt, the reader is left to infer that Charlotte, Mrs. Sowerberry, and Noah are Oliver's foes.

Answer 2

1. In this excerpt, Oliver is presented as ______?
Oliver was presented as a juvenile delinquent. He was offended by Noah's words but he did not take it to his defense. He was filled with rage due to the insult of his mother.
2. Charlotte is shown to be a woman who is __________?
Charlotte was shown to be a woman of strong physical strength. She was capable of raising her fist to instill discipline.
3. In the last 2 paragraphs of the excerpt, the reader is left to infer that Charlotte, Mrs. Sowerburry, and Noah are ___________ Oliver.
The 3 characters are inferred to be Oliver's tormentors in the scenario. They haven't shown Oliver the compassion and understanding that he needs as he was still adjusting and transitioning to the new environment.