In "The Feather Pillow," why does Alicia die? A. She has had a violent quarrel with her unloving husband. B. She has had the life sucked out of her by an insect living in her pillow. C. She has been weakened by fevers caused by a mysterious illness. D. She has been drained of the will to live by her troubled marriage.

Read the excerpt from “strychnine in the soup,” in which mr. mulliner explains the ending of a mystery novel to a bar patron who is anxious to know the conclusion of the story. “the plumber forgot his snake and had to go back for it,” explained mr. mulliner. ‘‘i trust that this revelation will prove sedative.” “i feel a new man,” said the draught stout. “i’d have lain awake worrying about that murder all night.” explain how a student who did not know the meaning of sedative could infer its definition?