Read the following passage: “I knew that would be the end of it, as you both slept soundly and tranquilly. Hans and I have each taken turn to watch and every hour we have seen visible signs of amelioration.”

What does “amelioration” mean, based on context clues?

getting better
getting worse
staying the same
becoming crazy
Story if journey to the center of the earth

Read the excerpt from "a pair of silk stockings." but she went on feeling the soft, sheeny luxurious things—with both hands now, holding them up to see them glisten, and to feel them glide serpent-like through her fingers. which best describes the underlying tone of the excerpt created by the connotations of the words “soft,” ”luxurious,” “glisten,” and “serpent-like”? 1. gloom 2. temptation 3. forgiveness 4. suspicion