In the novel, Ansa looked around glumly when Jimi was engrossed in laughter and chatter because he was

Analyze the question

This is a literature-in-English question that asks about a specific scene in a novel. The question refers to "Ansa" and "Jimi", but it doesn't name the novel and gives no passage. That means the answer depends on knowing the text, which is not something I can work out from the wording alone.

What the options suggest

• A. neglected by Jimi: The scene sets Jimi "engrossed in laughter and chatter" against Ansa looking around "glumly". The contrast suggests Ansa is left out, with Jimi busy enjoying himself with others. This fits the wording best.
• B. anxious to go home: Nothing in the sentence points to this.
• C. distracted by a band playing on the field: Being distracted by a band doesn't explain a gloomy, sulky look.
• D. given twelve strokes of the cane by the principal: Nothing links this to Jimi's laughter and chatter in that moment.

Solution

Because the question is about a character's mood, we can use context clues:

1. "Glumly" means sad or sulky.
2. The cause must be linked to Jimi's behaviour, since the sentence says "when Jimi was engrossed in laughter and chatter".
3. Being so absorbed in his own conversation, Jimi would be ignoring Ansa. That leaves Ansa feeling neglected.

I can't confirm it against the novel's actual text, since the passage isn't provided, so treat this as a strong inference from the context clues rather than a verified recall of the scene.

Exam tip

When a literature question names a mood word like "glumly", look for the option that explains the emotion in relation to the other character mentioned. Eliminate options about unrelated events (a band, a caning, going home) unless the question gives a reason to link them.