English II End Term: 13 September 2026 (May 2026 term)

Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.
This time, since it was after high noon, the gates were ajar and the keeper of the gate idled upon the threshold, picking his teeth with a bamboo sliver after his meal. He was a tall fellow with a large mole upon his left cheek, and from the mole hung three long black hairs which had never been cut. When Wang Lung appeared, he shouted roughly, thinking from the basket that he had come to sell something. “Now then, what?” With great difficulty, Wang Lung replied, “I am Wang Lung, the farmer.” “Well, and Wang Lung, the farmer, what?” retorted the gateman, who was polite to none except the rich friends of his master and mistress. “I am come—I am come—” faltered Wang Lung. “That I see,” said the gateman with elaborate patience, twisting the long hairs of his mole. “There is a woman,” said Wang Lung, his voice sinking helplessly to a whisper. In the sunshine, his face was wet. The gateman gave a great laugh. “So you are he!” he roared. “I was told to expect a bridegroom today. But I did not recognise you with a basket on your arm.” “It is only a few meats,” said Wang Lung apologetically, waiting for the gateman to lead him within. But the gateman did not move.
At last, Wang Lung said with anxiety, “Shall I go alone?” The gateman affected a start of horror. “The Old Lord would kill you!” Then, seeing that Wang Lung was too innocent, he said, “A little silver is a good key.” Wang Lung perceived at last that the man wanted money of him. “I am a poor man,” he said pleadingly. “Let me see what you have in your girdle,” said the gateman. And he grinned when Wang Lung, in his simplicity, actually put his basket upon the stones and, lifting his robe, took out the small bag from his girdle and shook into his left hand what money was left after his purchases. There was one silver piece and fourteen copper pence. “I will take the silver,” said the gateman coolly, and before Wang Lung could protest, the man had the silver in his sleeve and was striding through the gate, bawling loudly, “The bridegroom, the bridegroom!” Wang Lung, in spite of anger at what had just happened and horror at this loud announcing of his coming, could do nothing but follow, and this he did, picking up his basket and looking neither to the right nor left. Afterwards, although it was the first time he had ever been in a great family’s house, he could remember nothing. With his face burning and his head bowed, he walked through court after court, hearing that voice roaring ahead of him, hearing tinkles of laughter on every side.
Source: The Good Earth – Pearl S Buck

The word “idled” means:

Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.
This time, since it was after high noon, the gates were ajar and the keeper of the gate idled upon the threshold, picking his teeth with a bamboo sliver after his meal. He was a tall fellow with a large mole upon his left cheek, and from the mole hung three long black hairs which had never been cut. When Wang Lung appeared, he shouted roughly, thinking from the basket that he had come to sell something. “Now then, what?” With great difficulty, Wang Lung replied, “I am Wang Lung, the farmer.” “Well, and Wang Lung, the farmer, what?” retorted the gateman, who was polite to none except the rich friends of his master and mistress. “I am come—I am come—” faltered Wang Lung. “That I see,” said the gateman with elaborate patience, twisting the long hairs of his mole. “There is a woman,” said Wang Lung, his voice sinking helplessly to a whisper. In the sunshine, his face was wet. The gateman gave a great laugh. “So you are he!” he roared. “I was told to expect a bridegroom today. But I did not recognise you with a basket on your arm.” “It is only a few meats,” said Wang Lung apologetically, waiting for the gateman to lead him within. But the gateman did not move.
At last, Wang Lung said with anxiety, “Shall I go alone?” The gateman affected a start of horror. “The Old Lord would kill you!” Then, seeing that Wang Lung was too innocent, he said, “A little silver is a good key.” Wang Lung perceived at last that the man wanted money of him. “I am a poor man,” he said pleadingly. “Let me see what you have in your girdle,” said the gateman. And he grinned when Wang Lung, in his simplicity, actually put his basket upon the stones and, lifting his robe, took out the small bag from his girdle and shook into his left hand what money was left after his purchases. There was one silver piece and fourteen copper pence. “I will take the silver,” said the gateman coolly, and before Wang Lung could protest, the man had the silver in his sleeve and was striding through the gate, bawling loudly, “The bridegroom, the bridegroom!” Wang Lung, in spite of anger at what had just happened and horror at this loud announcing of his coming, could do nothing but follow, and this he did, picking up his basket and looking neither to the right nor left. Afterwards, although it was the first time he had ever been in a great family’s house, he could remember nothing. With his face burning and his head bowed, he walked through court after court, hearing that voice roaring ahead of him, hearing tinkles of laughter on every side.
Source: The Good Earth – Pearl S Buck

Which literary device is used in “A little silver is a good key”?

Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions.
This time, since it was after high noon, the gates were ajar and the keeper of the gate idled upon the threshold, picking his teeth with a bamboo sliver after his meal. He was a tall fellow with a large mole upon his left cheek, and from the mole hung three long black hairs which had never been cut. When Wang Lung appeared, he shouted roughly, thinking from the basket that he had come to sell something. “Now then, what?” With great difficulty, Wang Lung replied, “I am Wang Lung, the farmer.” “Well, and Wang Lung, the farmer, what?” retorted the gateman, who was polite to none except the rich friends of his master and mistress. “I am come—I am come—” faltered Wang Lung. “That I see,” said the gateman with elaborate patience, twisting the long hairs of his mole. “There is a woman,” said Wang Lung, his voice sinking helplessly to a whisper. In the sunshine, his face was wet. The gateman gave a great laugh. “So you are he!” he roared. “I was told to expect a bridegroom today. But I did not recognise you with a basket on your arm.” “It is only a few meats,” said Wang Lung apologetically, waiting for the gateman to lead him within. But the gateman did not move.
At last, Wang Lung said with anxiety, “Shall I go alone?” The gateman affected a start of horror. “The Old Lord would kill you!” Then, seeing that Wang Lung was too innocent, he said, “A little silver is a good key.” Wang Lung perceived at last that the man wanted money of him. “I am a poor man,” he said pleadingly. “Let me see what you have in your girdle,” said the gateman. And he grinned when Wang Lung, in his simplicity, actually put his basket upon the stones and, lifting his robe, took out the small bag from his girdle and shook into his left hand what money was left after his purchases. There was one silver piece and fourteen copper pence. “I will take the silver,” said the gateman coolly, and before Wang Lung could protest, the man had the silver in his sleeve and was striding through the gate, bawling loudly, “The bridegroom, the bridegroom!” Wang Lung, in spite of anger at what had just happened and horror at this loud announcing of his coming, could do nothing but follow, and this he did, picking up his basket and looking neither to the right nor left. Afterwards, although it was the first time he had ever been in a great family’s house, he could remember nothing. With his face burning and his head bowed, he walked through court after court, hearing that voice roaring ahead of him, hearing tinkles of laughter on every side.
Source: The Good Earth – Pearl S Buck

Choose a substitute for the word “affected” as used in the passage.