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Read the excerpt from "Gumption." "Now, old man Oyster ain’t never had no trouble of any kind in this town before, but when them cops started to put their hands on him and throw him out o’ that office, he raised sand." What is the most likely meaning of the phrase "raised sand"? A. began to cry B. became furiously angry C. threw trash around D. ran away quickly
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Answer

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Step 1:
Let's solve this step by step:

Step 2:
: Understand the Context

The passage describes a situation where "old man Oyster" is being confronted by police, and the phrase "raised sand" suggests his reaction to this confrontation.

Step 3:
: Analyze the Phrase's Potential Meanings

- "Raised sand" is a colloquial expression from older American English - The context implies a strong, defiant reaction - The phrase suggests an aggressive or confrontational response

Step 4:
: Evaluate the Options

A. "began to cry" - This doesn't match the tone of defiance B. "became furiously angry" - This aligns best with the context of standing up to the police C. "threw trash around" - Too specific and not implied by the text D. "ran away quickly" - Contradicts the sense of confrontation

Step 5:
: Interpret the Phrase

The expression "raised sand" metaphorically suggests someone becoming agitated, standing up for themselves, or becoming combative - which most closely matches option B.

Final Answer

The phrase "raised sand" indicates that old man Oyster became extremely angry and likely confrontational when the police tried to remove him from the office, showing his defiance and unwillingness to be pushed around.