Read the excerpt from "The Lottery."

Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes. They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed. The women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk. They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands.

What information from the excerpt is ironic? A. That the women were plainly dressed B. That the women arrived after their husbands C. That the men stood away from the pile of stones D. That the men talked form commonplace topics

D. That the men talked of commonplace topics

Explanation:

As we read further into the story and see what happens, we would imagine that the men would be speaking more fearfully and generally be more concered of any outcome. Because they are talking about common subjects, it just goes to show that they are used to what is going on around them, and that it doesn't phase them as much as it should.

The poet sees something in nature that cannot be quantified.

Explanation:

Emerson feels the need to discuss the "poetic sense" that exists in contemplating nature. he ends up concluding that "poetic sense" means seeing nature as something unreachable and without the possibility of conceptualization. For him the "poetic sense" of nature is something that is within the sense of realization, but that can not be measured.