Question

jay gatsby was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly american—that comes, i suppose, with the absence of lifting work in youth and, even more, with the formless grace of our nervous, sporadic games. this quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness.

as used in the text, what does the word \quality\ most nearly mean?

choose 1 answer:

a characteristic

b standard

c prestige

d accomplishment

Explanation:

The text refers to a specific "resourcefulness of movement" (a distinct trait) as the "quality" breaking through Gatsby's manner. "Characteristic" matches this meaning of a defining personal trait, while the other options (standard, prestige, accomplishment) do not align with the context of describing a behavioral/physical attribute.

Answer:

A. Characteristic