Question

In "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," why does Smiley act indifferently when the stranger asks him about Dan'l Webster? A. Smiley is hoping to persuade the stranger to bet on how well Dan'l can jump. B. Dan'l looks as if he has something wrong with him, and Smiley is worried. C. Smiley is busy trying to teach Dan'l to jump, and the stranger interrupts. D. Simon Wheeler has cheated on a bet, and Smiley is angry about it.

Answer 1

A. Smiley is hoping to persuade the stranger to bet on how well Dan'l can jump

Step-by-step explanation:

In "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," Smiley acts indifferently when the stranger asks him about Dan'l Webster because he is hoping to persuade the stranger to bet on how well Dan'l can jump.

According to the given text, it is important that Smiley catches a S ucker by acting uninterested and nonchalant so that his "quarry" would bet.