In what way does the stranger's answer increase the tension of the rising action?

Read the passage: canines may not be the deepest thinkers in the world. but perhaps that's for the best. the life of a dog—sitting alone all day, waiting for everyone to come home—can be pretty boring. super-smart animals would probably get totally stressed out, says university of pennsylvania researcher james serpell. look at it this way: if dogs were any smarter, they probably wouldn't choose to hang around with us. which best describes the tone of the passage?

Read the following poem carefully, and then answer the questions that follow. sonnet 73 by william shakespeare that time of year thou mayst in me behold when yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang upon those boughs which shake against the cold, bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. in me thou seest the twilight of such day as after sunset fadeth in the west, which by and by black night doth take away, death's second self, that seals up all in rest. in me thou see'st the glowing of such fire that on the ashes of his youth doth lie, as the death-bed whereon it must expire consumed with that which it was nourish'd by. this thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, to love that well which thou must leave ere long. comprehension what seasonal images do you see in this poem? how do these images contribute to the poem's tone of loss and sadness?

Why has hepzibah opened a penny store in one of the gables of the house and why is this significant?