Question

when we were on a house - party together up in warwick, she left a borrowed car out in the rain with the top down, and then lied about it - and suddenly i remembered the story about her that had eluded me that night at daisys. at her first big golf tournament there was a row that nearly reached the newspapers - a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi - final round. the thing approached the proportions of a scandal - then died away. which statement provides the best analysis of the symbolism in the passage? a. the word scandal conveys the abandonment of the american dream. b. the repetition of the word lie echoes the theme of disillusionment. c. the car suggests the carelessness and recklessness of the upper class. d. the golf tournament represents the games the wealthy play to get ahead.

Explanation:

• Option A is too broad; the small scandal does not directly represent the full abandonment of the American Dream.
• Option B misinterprets: "lie" is used in two distinct meanings (untruth and golf ball position), not a repetition for disillusionment.
• Option C aligns with the text: the character leaves a borrowed car (a valuable item) out in the rain with the top down, showing careless disregard for others' property, which reflects the recklessness of the upper class in the context of The Great Gatsby.
• Option D is inaccurate; the golf incident is a specific act of cheating, not a metaphor for general "games" the wealthy play to advance.

Answer:

C. The car suggests the carelessness and recklessness of the upper class.