Read the following stanza from audre lorde's poem "hanging fire" and answer the question.

i am fourteen and my skin has betrayed me the boy i cannot live without still sucks his thumb in secret how come my knees are always so ashy what if i die before morning and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed.

why does lorde make the poem's speaker fourteen years old?

a)to emphasize her status as an adult
b)to call attention to her childishness
c)to call attention to this transitional time between adolescence and adulthood
d)to emphasize her maturity

what does the symbol of the closed door suggest?

a)closeness
b)love
c)evil
d)lack of connection

which answer best describes the voice of the poem?

a)insecure and frustrated
b)older, secure, and happy
c)a fourteen year old boy
d)a mother

Is this personification? "i have played the fox,now i must play the cat of the fable"

He said it was because a private detective sees the dark side of human nature. but whatever the reason, gill landers had an innate suspicion of politicians. when senator randy brill walked into his office on that summer day in august, mopping his flushed features with a monogrammed handkerchief, gill could think of no good reason to change his attitude. he'd only met brill once. that had been two years ago at a country club reception for state political notables. since then, he'd learned all he wanted to know about the senator's sinister reputation. gill sat back in his chair, put his feet on his desk, and fought to keep a poker face. but there was no way he could stop the chill that coursed along his spine like a rush of ice water. 29. in this paragraph, the word notables probably signifies that the persons so described a. would like to be politicians. b. are wealthy people. c. have political influence. d. are contributors to charity.

What is the best strategy for responding to counter-arguments in your persuasive research essay ?