Question

a tale of two cities
by charles dickens (adapted excerpt)
the story takes place during the time of the french revolution, the storming of the bastille in paris. during the riots, doctor manettes daughter, lucy darnay, learned that the prison had been attacked and the political prisoners held there, including her husband, were in danger.
here doctor manette had ascertained, through the registers on the table, that his son-in-law was among the detainees. he had pleaded hard to the tribunal, in which some members were asleep and some awake, for his life and freedom. in the first frantic greetings lavished on himself as a noted sufferer under the overthrown system, it had been accorded to him to have charles darnay brought before the lawless court, and examined. that, he seemed on the point of being at once released, when the tide in his favor met with some unexplained check (not intelligible to the doctor), which led to a few words of secret conference. that, the man sitting as president had then informed doctor manette that the defendant must remain in custody, but should, for his sake, be held blameless in safe custody.
2
select the correct answer.
read the excerpt from the passage.
he had pleaded hard to the tribunal, in which some members were asleep and some awake, for his life and freedom.
waylan is writing a paper on a tale of two cities by charles dickens. which of the writers commentaries is supported by the excerpt?
a. because the story takes place during the french revolution, there is no legal system.
b. as the original court system had been overthrown, doctor manette had no way to argue his case.
c. doctor manette was confused about whether his son-in-law would be found guilty.
d. doctor manette argued passionately, despite the lack of attention from the members of the tribunal.
reset next

Explanation:

• Option A is incorrect: The excerpt does not state there is no legal system, only that the Tribunal had inattentive members.
• Option B is incorrect: The excerpt shows Doctor Manette did present his case to the Tribunal, so he had a way to argue.
• Option C is incorrect: There is no mention of Doctor Manette being confused about his son-in-law's guilt in the excerpt.
• Option D is correct: The excerpt says Doctor Manette "pleaded hard" (argued passionately) to a Tribunal where "some members were asleep and some awake" (lack of attention).

Answer:

D. Doctor Manette argued passionately, despite the lack of attention from the members of the Tribunal.