Question

instructions
read the question carefully and select the best answer.
which of these inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 7)?
in all important matters, however, the citizens can always count on a refusal. and now the strange fact is that without this refusal one simply cannot get along. yet at the same time these official occasions designed to receive the refusal are by no means a formality. time after time one goes there full of expectation and in all seriousness and then one returns, if not exactly strengthened or happy, nevertheless not disappointed or tired. about these things i do not have to ask the opinion of anyone else, i feel them in myself, as everyone does; nor do i have any great desire to find out how these things are connected.
a. the townspeople don’t mind the refusal because there’s nothing they really want.
b. the people of the town have come to expect—and even rely on—the refusal.
c. the townspeople blindly follow the orders of the government without questioning.
d. the narrator prefers to mind his own business and not pay attention to the ceremony or the refusal.
ccss: rl.9-10.1

Explanation:

• Analizar la opción A: El pasaje no menciona que los aldeanos no quieran nada, sino que la negativa es un ritual. Elimina A.
• Analizar la opción B: El texto dice que "time after time one goes there full of expectation... not disappointed or tired" y que la negativa es un ritual. Esto sugiere que la gente espera y confía en la negativa, lo que coincide con B.
• Analizar la opción C: No hay evidencia de que sigan órdenes ciegamente; el foco es la negativa como ritual, no obediencia. Elimina C.
• Analizar la opción D: El narrador dice "I feel them in myself, as everyone does; nor do I have any great desire to find out..." pero no dice que prefiera ocuparse de sus asuntos, sino que acepta la situación. Elimina D.

Answer:

B. The people of the town have come to expect—and even rely on—the refusal.