TEAS Reading Practice Test Related

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Which of the following best summarizes the central theme of Wilde's play?

  • A. The absurdity of the British aristocracy and its social conventions.
  • B. The importance of being sincere and honest in personal relationships.
  • C. The dual nature of social standing and the conflicts it creates.
  • D. The challenges of maintaining personal integrity in a hypocritical society.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The absurdity of the British aristocracy and its social conventions.' The central theme of Wilde's play, as revealed through satire, is the critique of the absurdities and trivialities of the British aristocracy. Wilde uses clever dialogue, puns, and irony to expose the superficiality and hypocrisy of the upper classes. While sincerity and honesty in personal relationships are explored in the play, they are not the central theme. Choice C, the dual nature of social standing and resulting conflicts, is a partial theme but not the central one. Choice D, the challenges of maintaining personal integrity in a hypocritical society, touches on a theme present in the play, but it is not as central as the critique of the British aristocracy's absurdities and social conventions.