Question

read the following excerpt from the great gatsby: or, rather, as i didnt know mr. gatsby, it was a mansion, inhabited by a gentleman of that name. my own house was an eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so i had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor’s lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires—all for eighty dollars a month. which best explains how the point of view affects the tone of this passage? a. it conveys how welcome the narrator feels in his neighborhood despite his income level. b. it lends a self - deprecating sense of humor that makes the narrator credible. c. it establishes the narrator’s sensitivity toward the characters he will meet. d. it reveals the narrator to be a perceptive commentator on the action of the novel.

Explanation:

• Option A: The narrator calls his house an “eyesore” and the idea of “welcome” doesn't match the tone. The mention of being “overlooked” and the contrast with millionaires doesn't show a sense of welcome.
• Option B: The narrator describes his house negatively (“eyesore”) but also finds a positive in the “consoling proximity of millionaires” for a low rent. This self - deprecating (making fun of his own situation) humor makes him seem relatable and credible as a narrator.
• Option C: The passage doesn't focus on the narrator's sensitivity towards future characters; it's about his current living situation and perspective.
• Option D: The passage is more about the narrator's own living situation and tone rather than being a perceptive commentator on the novel's action.

Answer:

B. It lends a self - deprecating sense of humor that makes the narrator credible.