Which story contains the line 'I've never heard anybody so rude and c-common in my life'?

• A. The Baby Party
• B. The Enemy
• C. Old Man at the Bridge
• D. The Scarlet Letter

Answer: (A)

This line hinges on recognizing voice and setting through dialogue. The blunt judgment and the way the speaker emphasizes “rude and c-common” with a colloquial, slightly exaggerated tone signal a social moment where guests are watching and reacting to each other’s behavior at a party. The Baby Party revolves around a gathering centered on a baby, and its narration often comments on guests’ manners and social dynamics. That kind of scene naturally yields lines like this, where someone complains about another’s behavior in a way that reveals class-conscious attitudes and the narrator’s voice.

The other stories don’t fit this vocal moment. The Enemy and Old Man at the Bridge are rooted in wartime experiences and lean toward themes of hardship, duty, and survival rather than social etiquette at a party. The Scarlet Letter, set in a Puritan community, uses formal, elevated diction rather than the casual, vernacular style suggested by this line. So the line aligns best with The Baby Party because it captures the social observation and conversational tone that the story portrays.