Question

which inference is best supported by the passage below:
mr. ratignolle was one of those men who are called the salt of the earth. his cheerfulness was unbounded, and it was matched by his goodness of heart, his broad charity, and common sense. he and his wife spoke english with an accent which was only discernible through its un - english emphasis and a certain carefulness and deliberation. ednas husband spoke english with no accent whatever. the ratignolles understood each other perfectly. if ever the fusion of two human beings into one has been accomplished on this sphere it was surely in their union.
as edna seated herself at table with them she thought, \better a dinner of herbs,\ though it did not take her long to discover that it was no dinner of herbs, but a delicious repast, simple, choice, and in every way satisfying.
a) the ratignolles marriage has never had any problems or strife.
b) french cuisine is widely considered to be among the finest in the world.
c) edna cant help but compare the ratignolles blissful marriage to her own.
d) there was considerable social pressure in new orleans at the time to speak english.

Explanation:

• Option a: The passage says "if ever the fusion of two human beings into one has been accomplished on this sphere it was surely in their union" which implies a very harmonious relationship but "never had any problems" is an over - statement. There's no absolute indication of zero problems.
• Option b: The text only mentions a "delicious repast" but there's no reference to French cuisine or its global standing.
• Option c: Edna thinks "Better a dinner of herbs" (a reference to a simple, perhaps less - than - ideal situation compared to a more luxurious one, often used in the context of relationships). She then has dinner with the Ratignolles. The contrast in her thought and the description of the Ratignolles' marriage ("if ever the fusion...") implies she is comparing their marriage (which seems blissful) to her own (implied as less so from the "Better a dinner of herbs" thought).
• Option d: The passage only talks about the accents of Mr. Ratignolle, his wife, and Edna's husband when speaking English. There's no mention of social pressure in New Orleans to speak English.

Answer:

C. Edna can’t help but compare the Ratignolles’ blissful marriage to her own.