Question

select the correct answer.
why does carson mccullers use the term malady to describe american loneliness?
a. to illustrate that americans are nonconformists and, therefore, suffer from loneliness
b. to highlight that those americans who are lonely are ignorant of positive american features
c. to compare loneliness to an undesirable illness or disease that is difficult to cure
d. to suggest americans feel loneliness as a positive emotion that aids development
e. to show that europeans, unlike americans, have cured rampant loneliness

Explanation:

The word "malady" means an illness or disease, especially a chronic or serious one. When McCullers uses "malady" to describe American loneliness, she is making a comparison. Option A is incorrect as nonconformity isn't directly related to the meaning of "malady". Option B is wrong because "malady" doesn't relate to ignorance of positive features. Option C correctly interprets the metaphor: comparing loneliness to an undesirable, hard - to - cure illness/disease, which fits the meaning of "malady". Option D is incorrect as "malady" implies something negative, not a positive emotion. Option E is wrong as the term "malady" in this context is about American loneliness, not a comparison with Europeans' loneliness.

Answer:

C. to compare loneliness to an undesirable illness or disease that is difficult to cure