Question

directions: read the passage and then answer the questions that follow.
from dubliners
by james joyce
1 mr. james duffy lived in chapelizod because he wished to live as far as possible from the city of which he was a citizen and because he found all the other suburbs of dublin mean, modern and pretentious. he lived in an old sombre house and from his windows he could look into the disused distillery or upwards along the shallow river on which dublin is built. the lofty walls of his uncarpeted room were free from pictures. he had himself bought every article of furniture in the room: a black iron bedstead, an iron washstand, four cane chairs, a clothes - rack, a coal - scuttle, a fender and irons and a square table on which lay a double desk. a bookcase had been made in an alcove by means of shelves of white wood. the bed was clothed with white bedclothes and a black and scarlet rug covered the foot. a little hand - mirror hung above the washstand and during the day a white - shaded lamp stood as the sole ornament of the mantelpiece. the books on the white wooden shelves were arranged from below upwards according to bulk. a complete wordsworth stood at one end of the lowest shelf and a copy of the maynooth catechism, sewn into the cloth cover of a notebook, stood at one end of the top shelf. writing materials were always on the desk. in the desk lay a manuscript translation of hauptmann’s michael kramer, the stage directions of which were written in purple ink, and a little sheaf of papers held together by a brass pin. in these sheets a sentence was inscribed from time to time and, in an ironical moment, the headline of an advertisement for bile beans had...
which theme reveals mr. duffy’s personality and actions?
(a) one can accept a simple life.
(b) family is the key to happiness.
(c) balance in life brings joyfulness.
(d) one will regret the absence of adventures.

Explanation:

To determine the theme revealing Mr. Duffy’s personality and actions, we analyze his choices: he lives away from the city, in a simple, unpretentious home with minimal, functional furniture. Option a ("One can accept a simple life") aligns with his preference for a plain, unadorned lifestyle. Option b is incorrect as there’s no focus on family. Option c is wrong since his life lacks balance - it’s simple and isolated, not joyful. Option d is incorrect as he avoids city life (not seeking adventures) and the passage doesn’t suggest regret over lack of adventures.

Answer:

a. One can accept a simple life.