Read this excerpt trom paragraph 56 Already we knew that there was one room in that region above stairs which no one had seen in forty years.and which would have to be forced. They waited until Miss Emily was decently in the ground before they opened it. What is the author likely suggesting in this excerpt? The townspeople are ashamed to take certain actions in the presence of Miss Emily The townspeople's respect for proper etiquette is more powerful than their curiosity. Tobe has been secretly communicating with the townspeople over the years. Tobe's conscience is guilty because of his role in covering up the truth.

## Step 1<br />The first step in solving this problem is to understand the context of the excerpt. The excerpt is about townspeople who are hesitant to open a room that no one has seen in forty years, even after Miss Emily's death.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Next, we need to analyze the options given. The options suggest different motivations for the townspeople's actions.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The third option, "Tobe has been secretly communicating with the townspeople over the years," does not align with the context of the excerpt. There is no mention of Tobe communicating with the townspeople.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The fourth option, "Tobe's conscience is guilty because of his role in covering up the truth," also does not align with the context of the excerpt. There is no mention of Tobe's conscience or his role in covering up the truth.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />The first and second options, "The townspeople are ashamed to take certain actions in the presence of Miss Emily" and "The townspeople's respect for proper etiquette is more powerful than their curiosity," are more likely to be the author's suggestion. The townspeople's actions suggest a sense of respect for Miss Emily, even after her death.