Read the following sentence from the passage. (8) \u2026Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. Which phrase best states the meaning of “pluck at his beard” as used in the excerpt?
A .to be amused
B. to be approving
C. to be accepting
D. to be annoyed\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The correct answer is D. to be annoyed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the sentence, “pluck at his beard” is an expression used figuratively to describe a person who is frustrated or irritated by something. To “pluck” something generally means to pull or tug at it, and when it\u2019s applied to a beard, it suggests a gesture that often signifies impatience, annoyance, or contemplation. This action is commonly used in literature and conversation as a non-verbal cue to convey a person’s internal state of discomfort, frustration, or irritation, especially in a situation where they feel powerless or envious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the context of the passage, Jim\u2019s act of pulling out his watch to observe King Solomon, with all his treasures in the basement, reflects a sense of jealousy or envy. King Solomon, being a symbol of immense wealth and wisdom, represents an unattainable ideal for Jim. The use of the phrase “pluck at his beard” in this situation suggests that Jim is not just curious or admiring, but he is irritated by the wealth and status that Solomon has, making him feel envious. His gesture of plucking at his beard signifies his internal struggle and annoyance at his inability to attain what Solomon has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other options (A, B, and C) don\u2019t fit the tone of the situation as well. If Jim were “amused” or “approving,” he would likely have a more positive or neutral response. If he were “accepting,” his reaction would likely be calm or indifferent. However, the phrase “pluck at his beard” indicates a more negative emotional state, namely annoyance, that reflects Jim\u2019s envy of Solomon\u2019s wealth. Thus, D. to be annoyed<\/strong> is the most appropriate interpretation of the phrase in this context.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Read the following sentence from the passage. (8) \u2026Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. 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