Question

read the lines from robert hayden’s poem “monet’s waterlilies,” then look at the detail from claude monet’s painting water lilies. today as the news from selma and saigon poisons the air like fallout, i come again to see the serene, great picture that i love. why does the speaker like to view monet’s water lilies? to view art purely for art’s sake to escape unpleasant news to be exposed to stark reality to escape poisonous air

Explanation:

The poem lines mention that news from Selma and Saigon (unpleasant news) "poisons the air like fallout," and then the speaker comes to see Monet’s Water Lilies. The option "to view art purely for art’s sake" has no support. "To be exposed to stark reality" contradicts the idea of seeking the "serene" picture. "To escape poisonous air" is literal, but the "poisonous air" is a metaphor for unpleasant news. So the speaker wants to escape the unpleasant news by viewing the painting.

Answer:

B. to escape unpleasant news