In the line “His eyes glimmered with a cold fire”, the word “glimmered” most nearly means:
Answer
flickered faintly
The correct answer is flickered faintly — Confirm that this meaning fits the mood of the description.
Step-by-step solution
- Read the sentence in its context – the visitor is described as calm yet unsettling.
- Notice the adjective ‘cold’ paired with ‘fire’, suggesting a subdued, not brilliant, light.
- Eliminate ‘shone brightly’ and ‘burned intensely’ because they imply strong, warm light.
- Choose the option that conveys a weak, intermittent light: ‘flickered faintly.’
- Confirm that this meaning fits the mood of the description.
Common mistake: Choosing ‘shone brightly’ because of the word ‘fire’, ignoring the modifier ‘cold’.
Concept tested: Vocabulary in context
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
Related questions
- 1 Explain the significance of the phrase “the wind whispered through the shutters” in creating the mood of the story.
- 2 Discuss how the author uses contrast between light and darkness to develop the theme of fear versus safety. Cite two passages from the text in your answer.
- 3 Where does the story “The Midnight Visitor” primarily take place?
- 4 Identify and explain the literary device used in the first two lines of the poem: "Some say the world will end in fire, / Some say in ice."
- 5 In the line “The world is a … of shadows”, the word that best fits the blank is:
- 6 In the passage, the word 'gloomy' (as in 'the gloomy water of the pond') most nearly means: