Question

read the passage
from impressions of america
1
the first thing that struck me on landing in america was that if the americans are not the most well - dressed people in the world, they are the most comfortably dressed. men are seen there with the dreadful chimney - pot hat, but there are very few hatless men; men wear the shocking swallow - tail coat, but few are to be seen with no coat at all. there is an air of comfort in the appearance of the people....
2
the next thing particularly noticeable is that everybody seems in a hurry to catch a train. this is a state of things which is not favourable to poetry or romance. had romeo or juliet been in a constant state of anxiety about trains, or had their minds been agitated by the question of return - tickets, shakespeare could not have given us those lovely balcony scenes which are so full of poetry and pathos.
america is the noisiest country that ever existed. one is waked up in the morning, not by the singing of the nightingale, but by the steam whistle. it is surprising that the sound practical sense of the americans does not reduce this intolerable noise. all art depends upon exquisite and delicate sensibility, and such continual turmoil must ultimately be destructive of the musical faculty.
(\impressions of america\ by oscar wilde)
part a
which inferred claim is most fully developed in the passage?

1. americans dress as they wish to dress.
2. life in america is unsuitable for creating art.
3. americans have difficulty managing their time.
4. life in america prioritizes commerce over nature.

part b
which excerpt from the passage best supports the correct answer from part a?

1. \there is an air of comfort in the appearance of the people.\ (paragraph 1)
2. \particularly noticeable is that everybody seems in a hurry\ (paragraph 2)
3. \one is waked up in the morning, not by the singing of the nightingale\ (paragraph 3)
4. \such continual turmoil must ultimately be destructive\ (paragraph 3)

Explanation:

Part A

To determine the inferred claim, analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage focuses on comfort in dressing, not dressing as one wishes. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The passage mentions that the hurried, noisy environment (e.g., anxiety about trains, steam whistles) is not favorable to poetry/romance and art depends on delicate sensibility, suggesting America’s life is unsuitable for art. This aligns.
• Option 3: The passage says people are in a hurry for trains, not that they struggle with time management. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The passage does not discuss commerce vs. nature. Eliminate.

For the correct Part A answer (life in America is unsuitable for art), find the excerpt that supports this:

• Option 1: Talks about comfort in appearance, not art. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Talks about being in a hurry, not art. Eliminate.
• Option 3: Compares nightingale singing (nature) to steam whistle, but does not directly link to art. Eliminate.
• Option 4: Says “continual turmoil must ultimately be destructive” of the musical faculty (a part of art), supporting that America’s environment harms art creation.

Answer:

1. Life in America is unsuitable for creating art.

Part B