Do word choices have a positive or negative connotation?

Which two elements does this excerpt from a christmas carol by charles dickens contain? "a small matter," said the ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude." "small! " echoed scrooge. the spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of fezziwig: and when he had done so, said, "why! is it not? he has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. is that so much that he deserves this praise? " "it isn’t that," said scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. "it isn't that, spirit. he has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? the happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune." he felt the spirit's glance, and stopped. "what is the matter? " asked the ghost. "nothing particular," said scrooge. "something, i think? " the ghost insisted. "no," said scrooge, "no. i should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. that's all."

8. "caged bird" right now, i feel like a bird caged without a key everyone comes to stare at me with so much joy and reverie they don't know how i feel inside through my smile, i cry they don't know what they're doing to me keeping me from flying that's why i say i know why the caged bird sings only joy comes from song she's so rare and beautiful to others why not just set her free? so she can fly, fly, fly spreading her wings and her song let her fly, fly fly for the whole world to see she's like caged bird fly, fly ooh just let her fly just let her fly just let her fly spread the wings spread the beauty what is the allusion found in the poem? question 8 options: a) alicia keys b) i know why the caged bird sings c) spreading her wings and her song d) fly, fly, fly

When a progressive tense is used in the independent clause, the dependent clause typically uses the tense.