a sovereign remedy
by flora annie steel (excerpt)
chapter i
a sovereign remedy was written by flora annie steel and published in 1903. steel spent 22 years in british india which was the setting for a number of her historical novels, including this one.
(1) “oh! dash it all... i’m so sorry...”
(2) “oh! dash it all... i’m so sorry...”
(3) the coincident exclamations and their sequent apology were separated by a crash, followed by a pause, during which the two cyclists who had collided picked themselves out of the dust unhurt and looked quickly at their machines; finally turning to each other with a smiling benevillance born of relief–for there was no denying that the affair might have been serious, and they were both conscious of sin.
(4) “it was my fault: i was looking at the view,” said one of the two young men candidly. he was a trifle the taller, the broader, and distinctly the better looking; but they were both excellent specimens of clean, wholesome - looking british manhood; curiously alike also, not only in feature, but in resolute adherence to the conventional type.
(5) “but so was i!” returned the other. his voice was the pleasanter, not perhaps so resonant, but with more modulation in it. “besides, your machine is damaged, and mine isn’t–oh! by george! i hadn’t noticed the pedal,” he added, following the other’s look. he bent for closer inspection, then gave a laugh which was but half rueful; in truth, he was not altogether dissatisfied with this justice of providence.
(6) “about equal–so we’ll cry quits,” he said.
(7) “i means walking for us both,” said the other with a shrug. “are you going my way?”
(8) he nodded towards the blue depths of the valley, which, from this gap in the wavy outline of rolling hill where they stood, dipped down to the distant sea that lay half - way up the sky like a level pale - blue cloud.
select the correct answer.
read the excerpt and the dictionary entry.
(4) “it was my fault: i was looking at the view,” said one of the two young men candidly. he was a trifle the taller, the broader, and distinctly the better looking; but they were both excellent specimens of clean, wholesome - looking british manhood; curiously alike also, not only in feature, but in resolute adherence to the conventional type.
fault noun
1. something that detracts from perfection
2. a long, extended fracture in a rock
3. the responsibility for a mistake or accident
4. a bad serve in a racket game like tennis
which definition best represents the meaning of fault as it is used in the excerpt?
a. definition 1
b. definition 2
c. definition 3
d. definition 4

Question

Accepted Answer

# Brief Explanations:
To determine the meaning of "fault" in the excerpt "It was my fault; I was looking at the view", we analyze each definition:
- Definition 1: "something that detracts from perfection" – In the context, the speaker is taking responsibility for a mistake (distracting from the task of not crashing, perhaps), so this fits as the speaker is acknowledging a flaw in their action (looking at the view instead of focusing, leading to the accident implied by the cyclists' crash earlier? Or just a social mistake of causing a situation? Either way, taking blame for a detraction from ideal behavior).
- Definition 2: "a long, extended fracture in a rock" – Irrelevant to the context of a person's action.
- Definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" – While close, the wording of the excerpt's "fault" here is more about a personal shortcoming (distracting from what they should have been doing) rather than direct responsibility for an accident (though related). However, re - evaluating, the key is the context of the story: the two cyclists had a crash, and now the speaker is saying "it was my fault" – so taking responsibility for the accident/mistake. Wait, but let's re - check the definitions. Wait, the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – if the ideal is not causing a crash, then the speaker's action (looking at the view) was a detraction from that perfection. But definition 3 is "responsibility for a mistake or accident". Let's look at the sentence again: "It was my fault; I was looking at the view" – the speaker is saying they are to blame (responsible) for what happened (the situation with the cyclists? The text before has the cyclists colliding, then pausing, and now this line). So the speaker is taking responsibility for the mistake/accident (the crash or the situation). Wait, but definition 1: "something that detracts from perfection" – maybe the speaker's action (looking at the view) was a flaw (detracting from the perfect action of paying attention), which led to the incident. But definition 3 is about responsibility. Let's check the options again. Wait, the options are:
A. definition 1: something that detracts from perfection
B. definition 2: a long, extended fracture in a rock
C. definition 3: the responsibility for a mistake or accident
D. definition 4: a bad serve in a racket game like tennis

In the context of the story (cyclists colliding, then the speaker saying "it was my fault"), the speaker is taking responsibility for the mistake (the crash or the situation that led to it). Wait, but maybe the "fault" here is the speaker's action (looking at the view) which was a flaw (detracting from perfection of being attentive). But let's think about the common usage: "It was my fault" usually means taking responsibility for a mistake/accident. However, let's re - examine the definitions. Wait, the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – if the speaker's action (looking at the view) was a flaw (detracting from the perfect action of not causing a problem), then definition 1 could fit. But definition 3 is about responsibility. Wait, maybe the key is the difference between the two. Let's see the example: "It was my fault" – in common language, this is taking responsibility (definition 3). But let's check the text again. The previous part talks about two cyclists who collided, picked themselves up, and then the speaker says "It was my fault; I was looking at the view". So the speaker is saying they are responsible for the collision (the accident) because they were looking at the view (not paying attention). So definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" would be correct? Wait, no, wait the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – maybe the speaker's action (looking at the view) is a fault (a flaw) that led to the accident. But the phrase "It was my fault" is more about taking responsibility. Wait, maybe I made a mistake. Let's check the definitions again:

- Definition 1: something that detracts from perfection (e.g., a flaw in a person's character or action)
- Definition 3: the responsibility for a mistake or accident (e.g., "It's your fault the glass broke")

In the sentence "It was my fault; I was looking at the view", the speaker is acknowledging that their action (looking at the view) was the reason for the incident (the cyclists' collision, perhaps). So they are taking responsibility for the mistake/accident, which is definition 3? Wait, but the answer options: let's re - read the question. Wait, the excerpt is from a story where two cyclists collided, then there's a pause, and then the speaker says "It was my fault; I was looking at the view". So the "fault" here is the speaker's responsibility for the accident (the collision). So definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" would be correct? But wait, the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – if the speaker's action (looking at the view) is a flaw (detracting from the perfect action of being careful), then definition 1. But the phrase "It was my fault" is more about responsibility. Wait, maybe the correct answer is C (definition 3) or A (definition 1). Wait, let's think of a simpler example: "My fault, I forgot to call" – here, "fault" is a flaw (detracting from perfection of being reliable) and also taking responsibility. But in the context of the story, the key is that the speaker is taking responsibility for the situation (the cyclists' collision). So definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" is correct. Wait, but the first definition is about detracting from perfection. Maybe the answer is A? Wait, no, let's check the options again. The options are A. definition 1, B. definition 2, C. definition 3, D. definition 4.

Wait, maybe I messed up. Let's re - analyze:

The sentence is "It was my fault; I was looking at the view". The speaker is saying that their action (looking at the view) was the fault (the reason) for the incident. So "fault" here means the responsibility for the mistake (the collision). So definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" is correct. But wait, the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – if the speaker's action is a fault (a flaw) that led to the accident, then definition 1. But the phrase "It was my fault" is more about taking responsibility. I think the correct answer is C (definition 3). Wait, no, wait the first definition: "something that detracts from perfection" – for example, a fault in a painting (a flaw that makes it less perfect). In the sentence, the speaker's action (looking at the view) is a fault (a flaw) that made the situation (the cyclists' collision) happen. So the fault (the flaw in their action) led to the accident, so they are taking responsibility. But the definition of "fault" as "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" (definition 3) is a more direct match for the phrase "It was my fault". So the correct answer should be C? Wait, no, maybe I'm wrong. Wait, let's check the text again. The previous part: "The coincident exclamations and their sequent apology were separated by a crash, followed by a pause, during which the two cyclists who had collided picked themselves out of the dust unhurt and looked quickly at their machines; finally turning to each other with a smiling benevolence born of relief - for there was no denying that the affair might have been serious, and they were both conscious of sin." Then the speaker says "It was my fault; I was looking at the view". So the "affair" is the collision. The speaker is saying they are responsible for the collision (the accident) because they were looking at the view (not paying attention). So definition 3: "the responsibility for a mistake or accident" is correct. So the answer is C. Wait, but earlier I thought definition 1, but no, definition 3 is about responsibility for a mistake or accident, which fits here.
# Answer:
C. definition 3

Sovi.AI - AI Math Tutor

QUESTION IMAGE

Question

Explanation:

Answer: