Question

the reincarnation of tama
by yoi theodora ozaki (excerpt)
(1) many years ago in yedo, in the district of fukagawa, there lived a rich timber merchant. after many years the merchants wife at last gave birth to a daughter. both parents rejoiced that the gods had answered their prayers. they reared the child with great care, likening her to a precious gem held tenderly in both hands, and they named her tama, the jewel.
(2) when she reached the age of sixteen her parents thought it was time to seek a suitable bridegroom for her. however, it proved exceedingly difficult to find anyone who would meet all their requirements.
(3) now it happened that near-by in a small house there lived a man by the name of hayashi. he was a provincial samurai, but for some reason or other had left his daimos domain and settled in yedo. his wife was long since dead, but he had an only son whom he educated in the refinements of the military class. the family was a poor one, for all samurai were trained to hold poverty in high esteem, and to despise trade and money-making.
(4) at the time this story opens the elder hayashi had just died and the son, though only nineteen years of age, carried on his fathers work.
(5) he often passed the rich merchants house and tama, the jewel, noticed the young man coming and going with his flute. questioning her nurse, she learned all there was to know about his history, his poverty, his scholarly attainments, his skill as a musician and the recent sorrow he had sustained in the death of his father.
(6) besides being attracted by his good looks, the beautiful tamas heart went out in sympathy to the young man in his misfortune and loneliness, and she asked her mother to invite him to the house as her music-master, so that they might play duets together - he performing on the flute to her accompaniment on the koto.
14
select the correct text in the passage.
which paragraph best reveals - characters cha ge of perspective?
(15) tama was inconsolable. she pined for her lover and soon fell ill. her elaborate trousseau and the outfit for the bridal household was complete but the wedding ceremony had to be postponed.
(16) both parents became very anxious for, as the days went by, instead of getting better their daughter visibly wasted away and sometimes could not leave her bed, so weak did she become.
(17) her mother now begged the father to allow the marriage with hayashi to take place. though he was not the man of their choice in worldly position, yet if their daughter loved him, it were better that she should marry him.
(18) but now arose a difficulty of which they had not dreamed. hayashi had moved away no one knew whither, and all their frantic efforts to trace him were fruitless.

Explanation:

In paragraph (17), the mother's change in perspective is shown. Initially, the parents had requirements for a bridegroom (from paragraph 2). But here, the mother now begs the father to allow the marriage with Hayashi, even though he wasn't their first - choice in worldly position. This shows a shift from a focus on worldly status (as per their initial requirements) to considering their daughter's feelings (since their daughter loved him).

Answer:

Paragraph (17)