Question

brutus. he is not doubted.—a word, lucillius.
how he received you let me be resolved.
lucillius. with courtesy and with respect enough,
but not with such familiar instances,
nor with such free and friendly conference,
as he hath used of old.
brutus. thou hast described
a hot friend cooling. ever note, lucillius:
when love begins to sicken and decay
it useth an enforced ceremony.
there are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
but hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
but when they should endure the bloody spur,
they fall their crests and like deceitful jades
how does lucillius, a minor character in the play, help
advance the plot in this passage?
○ lucillius is protective of cassius so he diminishes
the seriousness of the conflict.
○ lucillius tells brutus that cassius intends to attack
brutus, increasing the tension and conflict.
○ lucillius does not tell brutus much about cassius,
which causes brutus to question the loyalty of
lucillius.
○ lucillius explains that cassius is far less friendly
than he once was, and brutus uses the information
to confirm his judgement that cassius is turning
against him.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: Lucillius's description doesn't diminish conflict; it hints at a cooling friendship, so this is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 2: The passage has no mention of Cassius intending to attack Brutus, so this is wrong.
• Analyze Option 3: Brutus questions Cassius's loyalty, not Lucillius's, so this is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 4: Lucillius says Cassius was less familiar/friendly than before. Brutus then interprets this as Cassius turning against him, which advances the plot by confirming Brutus's judgment of Cassius's changing loyalty.

Answer:

D. Lucillius explains that Cassius is far less friendly than he once was, and Brutus uses the information to confirm his judgement that Cassius is turning against him.