Miss lottie’s house was the most ramshackle of all our ramshackle homes. the sun and rain had long since faded its rickety frame siding from white to a sullen gray. the boards themselves seemed to remain upright not from being nailed together but rather from leaning together, like a house that a child might have constructed from cards. a brisk wind might have blown it down, and the fact that it was still standing implied a kind of enchantment that was stronger than the elements. there it stood and as far as i know is standing yet—a gray, rotting thing with no porch, no shutters, no steps, set on a cramped lot with no grass, not even any weeds—a monument to decay. what can best be inferred about miss lottie based on the description above?

a)miss lottie was a loner with no family.
b)miss lottie wished she could afford a better home.
c)miss lottie was one of the poorest people in the neighborhood.
d)miss lottie was an outcast who did not take care of her home

I believe the best answer to be letter C) Miss Lottie was one of the poorest people in the neighborhood.

Explanation:

The excerpt was taken from the short story "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier. The story takes place during the Great Depression that affected the US. Miss Lottie is one of the characters, an old lady who has a mentally challenged son and a beautiful garden full of marigolds.

Even if one hasn't read the short story, from the excerpt it is possible to tell Miss Lottie is very likely a poor woman. The description of her house reminds us of run-down neighborhoods where people struggle financially and are unable to improve their homes. Not a clue is given about her being an outcast, about her wishes, or about her being lonely. The description only makes it clear that her house is in a disgraceful state, which we could logically assume is due to her lack of money. Taking further conclusions than that would be just guessing in the face of the information given.

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