Question

question #9
read the passage and answer the question that follows:
\and now was acknowledged the presence of the red death. he had come like a thief in the night. and one by one dropped the revellers in the blood - bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. and the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay. and the flames of the tripods expired. and darkness and decay and the red death held illimitable dominion over all.\
what theme is evident in the final passage of \the masque of the red death\?
○ no one can escape time.
○ darkness is always a symbol of fate.
○ people often act like a party will solve their problems.
○ it is impossible to avoid death.

Explanation:

In the passage, the Red Death comes like a thief in the night and kills all the revellers. The ebon - y clock (a symbol of time) stops when the last reveller dies. This shows that despite the revellers' attempts to have a revel (a party - like situation), death (the Red Death) prevails. The mention of "Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all" emphasizes that death is inescapable.

• The option "No one can escape time" is not the main theme. While the clock (a symbol of time) stops, the focus is on death.
• The option "Darkness is always a symbol of fate" is too broad and not the central theme here. The main focus is on death.
• The option "People often act like a party will solve their problems" is not the main theme. The passage is more about the inevitability of death rather than the ineffectiveness of parties.

Answer:

It is impossible to avoid death.