The following questions is based on your reading of "Araby"

What does this passage from "Araby" reveal about the boy's uncle?

"I heard him talking to himself and heard the hallstand rocking when it had received the weight of his overcoat. I could interpret these signs."

a.

He is eccentric.

c.

He is undependable.

b.

He is lonely.

d.

He is drunk.

The correct answer is D. He is drunk.

Explanation:

Even though Joyce didn't state it explicitly in the excerpt, based on context clues, we can deduce that the uncle came home drunk. He was talking to himself, which is not something a sane/sober person usually does. He is stumbling while walking (based on the hallstand rocking once he hit it).

There is no evidence that shows us that the uncle is eccentric, dependable, or lonely. We can deduce these things based on the entire story, but given that we have to analyze one paragraph only, the only thing we can see is that he is inebriated.