Question

the following text is adapted from herman melvilles 1857 novel the confidence - man. humphry davy was a prominent british chemist and inventor. years ago, a grave american savant, being in london, observed at an evening party there, a certain coxcombical fellow, as he thought, an absurd ribbon in his lapel, and full of smart banter, whisking about to the admiration of as many as were disposed to admire. great was the savants disdain; but, chancing ere long to find himself in a corner with the jackanapes, got into conversation with him, when he was somewhat ill - prepared for the good sense of the jackanapes, but was altogether thrown aback, upon subsequently being informed that he was no less a personage than sir humphry davy. which choice best states the main purpose of the text? a. it portrays the thoughts of a character who is embarrassed about his own behavior, b. it presents an account of a misunderstanding. c. it offers a short history of how a person came to be famous. d. it explains why one character dislikes another.

Explanation:

The text describes an American savant who misjudges a man at a party, later to find out the man is Sir Humphry Davy. This is an account of a misunderstanding. There is no indication of the savant being embarrassed about his behavior, no history of how Davy became famous, and the initial dislike is due to misjudgment not a known - reason dislike.

Answer:

B. It presents an account of a misunderstanding.