Question

reverse, first published in 1845. in this passage the author mentions phrenology, a pseudoscience popularized in the 19th century that involved measuring bumps on a persons head to predict mental traits. the consideration of the faculties and impulses - of the prima biblia - of the human soul, the phrenologists have failed to make room for a propensity which, although obviously existing radical, primitive, irreducible sentiment, has been equally overlooked by all the moralists who have preceded them. action, a posteriori, would have brought phrenology to it, as an innate and primitive principle of human action, a paradoxical something, which we may call perverseness, for want of a more characteristic term. through its promptings we act without a comprehensible object; or, if this shall be understood as a contradiction in terms, we may say that through its promptings we act for the reason that we should not. with certain minds, under certain conditions, it becomes absolutely irresistible. nor will this overwhelming tendency to do wrong for wrongs sake admit of analysis or resolution into ulterior motives. it is a radical, a primitive impulse - elementary. i have said thus much, that in some measure i may answer your question - that i may explain to you why i am here - that i may give you something that shall have at least the faint aspect of a reason for my wearing these fetters, and for my tenanting the prison - cell of the condemned. had i not been thus prolix, you might either have misunderstood me altogether, or, with the common herd, have fancied me mad. as it is, you will easily perceive that i am one of the many uncounted victims of the imp of the perverse. 1. paragraph 1 of the passage includes which of the following? a) a criticism of a supposed authority b) a rhetorical question c) a controversial personal anecdote d) a summary of a scientific study 2. according to the passage, which of the following could be considered an example of the perverse? a) knowing that the act of theft is evil but being compelled to complete that act as a matter of self - preservation b) knowing that one is only likely to offend by making a trivial statement but feeling compelled to make that statement anyway c) believing that human beings are corruptible and fallible but choosing to put ones faith in the eventual redemption of humanity d) believing that a certain performance at a job is likely to lead to success but lacking the motivation and energy to accomplish that performance 3. which lines in the passage best support the answer to the previous question? a) paragraph 2, sentence 1 (induction... term) b) paragraph 2, sentence 3 (with certain... irresistible) c) paragraph 2, sentence 4 (nor will... elements) d) paragraph 2, sentence 5 (it is... elementary) 4. the passage is primarily which of the following?

Explanation:

1. In paragraph 1, the author is criticizing phrenology, a supposed authority in the 19th - century, so A is correct. There is no rhetorical question, controversial personal anecdote or summary of a scientific study.
2. The concept of "perverseness" in the passage is about acting against what one knows is right without a rational reason. Option B describes a situation where one feels compelled to do something that one knows may offend, which fits this concept.
3. The lines "With certain minds, under certain conditions, it becomes absolutely irresistible" in paragraph 2, sentence 3 best support the idea of perverseness as described in question 2.
4. The passage mainly discusses the concept of perverseness and criticizes phrenology, which is more in line with literary - analysis rather than other types.

Answer:

1. A. A criticism of a supposed authority
2. B. Knowing that one is only likely to offend by making a trivial statement but feeling compelled to make that statement anyway
3. B. Paragraph 2, Sentence 3 ("With certain... irresistible")
4. (No options provided for this question in the text, but based on above analysis, it is related to literature analysis)