What does Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack reveal about the nature of marriage in the society Wilde is critiquing?
- A. It shows that marriage is based on love and personal choice.
- B. It reveals that marriage is a serious, thoughtful decision.
- C. It illustrates that marriage is more about social standing and wealth than love.
- D. It suggests that marriage is an outdated institution.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack regarding his suitability as a husband for her daughter Gwendolen reveals that marriage in the society depicted in the play is more about wealth and social status than love. This is evident as Lady Bracknell places great emphasis on Jack's financial background, social connections, and suitability as a match based on these criteria. Choice A is incorrect because Lady Bracknell's focus is not on love or personal choice but on societal expectations and status. Choice B is incorrect as the interrogation highlights superficial considerations rather than portraying marriage as a serious, thoughtful decision. Choice D is also incorrect as the play does not suggest that marriage is outdated, but rather emphasizes its transactional and societal nature in the context of the aristocratic society being critiqued.
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How does the concept of leading double lives contribute to the overall message of the play?
- A. It shows the characters' true personalities and the superficial nature of their social roles.
- B. It reveals the hypocrisy and superficiality of the characters.
- C. It deepens the complexity of the characters and the societal norms they navigate.
- D. It complicates the narrative by adding layers of deception and irony.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. In Wilde's play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' the characters' practice of leading double lives serves to reveal their hypocrisy and superficiality. This aligns with the central theme of the play, which satirizes the absurdities and trivialities of the British aristocracy. By showcasing the characters' dual nature through their double lives, the play effectively critiques the shallow social roles they inhabit. Choice A is incorrect because the concept of leading double lives does not necessarily show the characters' true personalities but rather their deceptive and hypocritical behaviors. Choice C is incorrect as while leading double lives may deepen the complexity of the characters, the primary focus is on exposing their hypocrisy and shallowness. Choice D is also incorrect as the concept of double lives does add layers of deception, but the key message lies in revealing the characters' superficiality and hypocrisy.
What is the setting of the story in this passage?
- A. In the city
- B. In the countryside
- C. In a jail
- D. In a mental health facility
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct setting of the story in the passage is in the city. The passage describes urban elements such as street shops, a nocturnal city with lamps, and scenes of a man walking swiftly and a child being trodden down in the city streets. These details clearly point to an urban setting, making choice A 'In the city' the correct answer. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because there is no mention or indication of a countryside, jail, or mental health facility setting in the passage.
What role does humor play in Wilde's critique of the aristocracy?
- A. To soften the harshness of the critique and make it more palatable.
- B. To make the critique more pointed and direct.
- C. To critique the aristocracy without alienating the audience.
- D. To entertain the audience with humor, while delivering a serious message.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In Wilde's critique of the aristocracy, humor serves the purpose of critiquing without alienating the audience. By infusing humor into his work, Wilde can effectively highlight the flaws and absurdities of the upper classes while keeping the audience engaged and receptive. Option A is incorrect because the humor does not aim to soften the critique but rather to enhance its impact. Option B is incorrect as the humor in Wilde's work is not meant to make the critique more pointed and direct but rather more approachable. Option D is incorrect because while entertaining the audience, the primary function of humor in Wilde's critique is to provide a platform for social commentary without losing the audience's interest.
The speaker addresses his audience as 'My Good Friends.' What kind of credibility does this salutation give to the speaker?
- A. The speaker's salutation is one from an employer to his employees, aiming to bridge the gap between them.
- B. The speaker's salutation is one from an entertainer to his audience, using friendly language to connect before a serious speech.
- C. The salutation gives the serious speech that follows a somber tone, as it is used ironically.
- D. The speech is from a politician to the public, using the salutation to grab the audience's attention.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The salutation 'My Good Friends' used by Charles Dickens in his speech to the working men and their families in Birmingham shows that he is addressing them as an entertainer, aiming to connect with them before delivering a serious message. This friendly language establishes a personal connection with the audience, setting a tone of camaraderie and warmth. The salutation is not meant to bridge a gap between an employer and employees (Choice A), create irony (Choice C), or grab attention like a politician (Choice D). Instead, it is a genuine and warm address to engage the audience before conveying his earnest hope about the Institute's principles.
What can the reader infer from this passage? I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair.
- A. The children tortured Gulliver.
- B. Gulliver traveled to meet new people.
- C. Gulliver is considerably larger than the children playing around him.
- D. Gulliver has a genuine love and enthusiasm for people of all sizes.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The reader can infer from the passage that Gulliver is considerably larger than the children playing around him. This is evident from the fact that the children dance on his hand and play hide-and-seek in his hair, indicating a significant size difference between Gulliver and the children. Choice A is incorrect because there is no mention or implication of the children torturing Gulliver in the passage. Choice B is incorrect because Gulliver's reason for traveling is not mentioned in the provided excerpt. Choice D is incorrect as there is no explicit indication of Gulliver having a genuine love and enthusiasm for people of all sizes; the passage primarily focuses on the interaction between Gulliver and the children in terms of size and playfulness.