SAT English Practice Question

The narrator of this passage, a young boy, describes the arrival of a new pet, a dog. "But, oh, I never want to see a dog again!" I said, for the dog was a very bad dog, and he did things that were awful. He had big, red eyes and a mouth that could swallow a whole calf, and he was not afraid of anything. But then one day, the dog changed. Suddenly, his eyes were clear, and he wouldn’t make a sound, and he’d sit beside me and put his head in my lap. He began to smile, and he gave me the most beautiful flowers I’d ever seen. He loved me, and I loved him, and he was the best dog in the world. And then the dog died. But that was so long ago, and my heart still aches. "But, oh, I never want to see a dog again!" I say, but I know that I’m lying. That I’m lying! I’m lying! I’m lying! I can't help it; I’m lying.

1. A.The repetition of the phrase "I’m lying" creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, which emphasizes the speaker’s strong feelings of regret.
2. B.The use of a series of exclamation points adds a sense of drama and excitement, which makes the speaker seem more carefree.
3. C.The use of a simple sentence at the end of the passage contrasts with the more complex sentences that precede it, which creates a sense of peace.
4. D.The sentence emphasizes the speaker’s lack of control over his emotions, which makes the speaker seem more vulnerable.