Question

mood, tone, and theme quick check
the would - be gentleman
by olfson, lewy
madame jourdain: monsieur jourdain, my husband, youre a fool! dressing up as though youre on your way to a fancy ball! hiring language teachers, and dancing teachers, and fencing teachers, and music teachers! the next thing i know, youll be paying somebody to teach you to breathe! and all because you think you can turn yourself into an aristocrat. why dont you face the fact that youre a merchant, always have been a merchant, and always will be? you, a gentleman? ha!
jourdain: my dear wife, i dont see what the fuss is about, just because i respect quality. there is nothing to compare with genteel society. theres no true dignity except among the nobility. i would give my right arm to have been born a count or marquis. but since i wasnt, im going to buy my way in!
use the passage to answer the question.
what is the main topic being discussed this passage?
(1 point)
○ middle - class versus genteel society
○ the social contributions of merchants
○ the importance of a quality education
○ why the nobility is powerful

Explanation:

The passage centers on Jourdain (a middle-class merchant) trying to adopt genteel (aristocratic) behaviors to join high society, while his wife emphasizes his middle-class identity. This directly addresses the contrast between middle-class and genteel society. Other options are irrelevant: no focus on merchants' social contributions, quality education is a tool for Jourdain not the main topic, and nobility's power is not discussed.

Answer:

middle-class versus genteel society