The station clock showed ten minutes to midnight when Nora finally reached the platform. Her bag, packed in a hurry, was heavier than she remembered, and her fingers ached from carrying it up the stairs. A few passengers waited under the yellow lamps, wrapped in coats, while a thin mist drifted along the rails. Nora checked her ticket again, though she knew by heart the number of the carriage. Somewhere far off, a whistle sounded, and her heart beat faster. She had said goodbye to her aunt that afternoon without crying, and she was proud of that. But now, with the train approaching, she felt a small, unexpected wave of sadness.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Nervous and a little sad, even though she is proud of herself

  1. Step 1: Her heart beats faster and she feels a wave of sadness. Answer: Nervous and a little sad. Why not the others: The passage says she packed in a hurry, that she said goodbye to her aunt without crying, and that she checked her ticket.

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