Question

Read the section below and select the BEST analysis of the author's intention. "Well," she said, "I think I'll look around to-morrow. I've got Friday and Saturday, and it won't be any trouble. Which way is the business part?\" Minnie began to explain, but her husband took this part of the conversation to himself. "It's that way," he said, pointing east. "That's east." Then he went off into the longest speech he had yet indulged in, concerning the lay of Chicago. "You'd better look in those big manufacturing houses along Franklin Street and just the other side of the river," he concluded. "Lots of girls work there. You could get home easy, too. It isn't very far." Carrie nodded and asked her sister about the neighbourhood. The latter talked in a subdued tone, telling the little she knew about it, while Hanson concerned himself with the baby. Finally he jumped up and handed the child to his wife. A) The author reveals Carrie's yearning for the idyllic family life she sees her sister enjoying. B) The author attempts to portray Hanson as being dismissive of his wife, not seeing her as an equal partner. C) The author reveals the emerging tensions between Minnie and Carrie because of Carrie's freedom and independence. D) The author attempts to portray Minnie as being oversensitive to criticism from her husband, but careful to disguise it from Carrie.

Answer 1

This excerpt comes from the novel “Sister Carrie” , written by Theodore Dreiser in which he relates about the life of Carrie Meeber who comes from humble beginnings to become a superstar. Her sister Minnie is married to Sven Hanson who is hard working and saving for a better future for his family.

Question: select the BEST analysis of the author's intention.

Answer: B) The author attempts to portray Hanson as being dismissive of his wife, not seeing her as an equal partner.

Answer 2

The correct answer is B) The author attempts to portray Hanson as being dismissive of his wife, not seeing her as an equal partner

• B is the best analysis of the author’s intention. There is plenty of evidence in the excerpt to say that Hanson is dismissive of his wife. The first evidence is when Hanson interrupts his wife when she was going to explain Carrie how to get to the business part, he starts answering the question as if his wife was not even present at the moment. Another piece of evidence, is when Carrie asks her sister about the neighborhood and Minnie answers in a very insecure tone, showing that the way Hanson interrupted her had affect her disposition. Hanson treats his wife as if she knew nothing about the topic.