Question

read the excerpt from fitzgeralds the great gatsby. my own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so i had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbors lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires—all for eighty dollars a month. across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable east egg glittered along the water, and the history of the summer really begins on the evening i drove over there. the contrast created between east egg and west egg suggests that the main character feels comfortable in all social situations. nick will experience a series of financial pitfalls as the story unfolds. the story’s conflict will be based on wealth and appearances. the story will be presented from a number of differing perspectives.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The excerpt shows a contrast between Nick's "small eyesore" house (West Egg - likely his area) and East Egg's "white palaces of fashionable...millionaires". There's no indication Nick is comfortable in all social situations; the contrast is about wealth, not his social comfort. Eliminate this.
2. Analyze the second option: The excerpt focuses on the contrast of wealth between East and West Egg, not on Nick's future financial pitfalls. The rent detail is about his house's affordability, not foreshadowing financial issues. Eliminate this.
3. Analyze the third option: East Egg has "white palaces" (wealth, appearance) and West Egg (Nick's area) has a "small eyesore" house. This contrast of wealth and appearance (fashionable East Egg vs. Nick's more modest place) suggests the story's conflict will involve wealth and appearances. This fits.
4. Analyze the fourth option: The excerpt is from Nick's perspective (first - person "I") and there's no indication of multiple perspectives. The contrast is about places, not narrative perspective. Eliminate this.

Answer:

the story’s conflict will be based on wealth and appearances.