Question

select the correct answer.

read paragraph 16.

oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. forget the hashed metaphor. she was ransacking the stores for jims present.

how do the details in the excerpt develop the storys theme?

they reveal that della has given up on finding the perfect gift for jim.
they reveal that della spends more time looking for a gift than she should.
they reveal that della has decided what to get jim for christmas.
they reveal that della cares more about jims happiness than her own.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

The excerpt from O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" describes Della spending two hours "ransacking the stores for Jim's present." The phrase "tripped by on rosy wings" emphasizes how quickly and joyfully the time passed because she was entirely focused on finding something worthy of her husband.

Connect details to theme

Della's intense, joyful search ("ransacking") highlights her deep love and selflessness. This devotion directly supports the story's central theme: true love is defined by selfless giving and prioritizing a loved one's happiness above all else.

Evaluate the options

• Option 1: Incorrect. She does not give up; she actively searches.
• Option 2: Incorrect. The passage portrays her time spent as joyful and purposeful, not as an excessive waste of time.
• Option 3: Incorrect. The excerpt describes the search process itself, not the moment she makes a final decision.
• Option 4: Correct. Her joyful, frantic search ("ransacking") shows her deep devotion to finding the perfect gift, demonstrating that she cares more about Jim's happiness than her own comfort or time.

Answer:

• They reveal that Della has given up on finding the perfect gift for Jim.
• They reveal that Della spends more time looking for a gift than she should.
• They reveal that Della has decided what to get Jim for Christmas.
• They reveal that Della cares more about Jim's happiness than her own. (Correct answer)