Question

beyond the horizon
by eugene o’neill (excerpt)
in this opening scene, robert is preparing for a journey at sea with his uncle. he dreams of leaving his family farm to seek adventure. before his departure, he expresses his feelings of affection to his longtime neighbor, ruth, and she explains that she has also secretly loved him.
robert (the expression of bewilderment giving way to one of overwhelming joy) do you mean that—that you love me?
ruth (sobbing) yes, yes—of course i do—what d’you s’pose? (she lifts up her head and looks into his eyes with a tremulous smile) i’ve loved you right along.
robert (mystified) but you and andy were always together!
ruth: because you never seemed to want to go any place with me. you were always reading an old book, and not paying any attention to me. i was too proud to let you see i cared because i thought the year you had away to college had made you stuck - up, and you thought yourself too educated to waste any time on me.
robert: and i was thinking—— (with a laugh) what fools we’ve both been!
ruth (overcome by a sudden fear) you won’t go away on the trip, will you, rob? you’ll tell them you can’t go on account of me, won’t you? you can’t go now! you can’t!
robert (bewildered) perhaps—you can come too.
ruth: oh, rob, don’t be so foolish. you know i can’t. who’d take care of ma? don’t you see i couldn’t go—on her account? please don’t go—not now. tell them you’ve decided not to. they won’t mind. i know your mother and father’ll be glad. they’ll all be. they don’t want you to go so far away from them. please, rob! we’ll be so happy here together where it’s natural and we know things. please tell me you won’t go!

select the correct answer.
which statement best expresses how ruth’s character advances the plot?
a. ruth expresses her love for robert to persuade him to abandon his dream of traveling.
b. ruth expresses her love for robert to persuade him to take her along on his travels.
c. ruth explains her dislike of her mother to persuade robert to abandon his dream of traveling.
d. ruth explains her dislike of andy to persuade robert join her for dinner.

Explanation:

• Option A: Ruth confesses love and then pleads Robert not to go on the trip, trying to make him abandon his travel dream. This matches her actions (expressing love, then urging him to stay).
• Option B: Ruth says she can't go with him (due to caring for her mother), so she doesn't try to go along. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Ruth doesn't explain dislike of her mother to persuade him; she talks about her feelings for Robert. Eliminate C.
• Option D: Ruth's focus is on Robert's travel, not dinner or disliking Andy (she explains her distance from Robert, not dislike of Andy). Eliminate D.

Answer:

A. Ruth expresses her love for Robert to persuade him to abandon his dream of traveling.