Which excerpt from “the gift of the magi” presents the reader with the initial conflict of the story? there was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. tomorrow would be christmas day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy jim a present. she had a way of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: " god, make him think i am still pretty." twenty dollars a week doesn't go far.

Jeremy planned to read the following poem aloud: wisdom by sara teas daleit was a night of early spring, the winter-sleep was scarcely broken; around us shadows and the wind listened for what was never spoken.though half a score of years are gone, spring comes as sharply now as then— but if we had it all to doit would be done the same again. it was a spring that never came; but we have lived enough to know that what we never have, remains; it is the things we have that go. jeremy interpreted this poem to mean that certain people, places, 'and things are important to us in our lives. but as time passes, we lose those things. what technique could jeremy use when reading the poem to emphasize this idea for listeners? a.he could read the poem rapidly to show how quickly people lose what’s important to them. b.he could emphasize the rhyming pattern in each stanza to represent patterns in life. c.he could read the poem slowly to represent the changes that happen over a lifetime. d.he could raise and lower his voice to represent the good and bad things people face in life.