Question

which statement best expresses a reasonable inference regarding the sergeant major's experience with the monkey's paw?

A)
The sergeant-major has never dared to use the monkey's paw.

B)
The sergeant-major has used the monkey's paw and regrets doing so.

C)
The sergeant-major has used the monkey's paw and is glad he did so.

D)
The sergeant-major is a swindler who knows that the monkey's paw has no power.

Answer 1

The full text is here for reference:

https://www.kyrene.org/cms/lib/AZ01001083/Centricity/Domain/2259/The%20Monkeys%20Paw%20-%20text.pdf

I will highlight the key part of the story that should clue you into the solution.

“To look at it,” said the Sergeant-Major, feeling about in his pocket, “it’s just an ordinary little paw,
dried to a mummy.”
He took something out of his pocket and held it out for them. Mrs. White drew back with a look of
disgust, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.
“And what is there special about it?” asked Mr. White as he took it from his son, and having
examined it, placed it upon the table.
“It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,” said the Sergeant-Major, “a very holy man. He wanted to
show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who tried to change it would be sorry. He put a
spell on it so that three different men could each have three wishes from it.”
The way he told the story showed that he truly believed it and his listeners became aware that their
light laughter was out of place and had hurt him a little.
“Well, why don’t you have three, sir?” said Herbert, cleverly.
The soldier looked at him the way that the middle aged usually look at disrespectful youth. “I
have,” he said quietly, and his face whitened.
“And did you really have the three wishes granted?” asked Mrs. White.
“I did,” said the Sergeant-Major, and his glass tapped against his strong teeth.
“And has anybody else wished?” continued the old lady.
“The first man had his three wishes. Yes,” was the reply, “I don’t know what the first two were, but
the third was for death. That’s how I got the paw.”
His voice was so serious that the group fell quiet.
“If you’ve had your three wishes it’s no good to you now then Morris,” said the old man at last.
“What do you keep it for?”

so the two questions you should ask yourself, based on this reading: 1. has the sargeant used the paw? and 2. if so, how does he feel about it? pay attention to his tone and nonverbal expressions.