Question

pretest: elements of literature 2
as the waitress took his order, james was reminded of his wife, who was sitting at home halfway around the world. and suddenly, for a moment, james was back there with her, sitting in the kitchen, their kitchen, listening to the soft tones of her voice describing all the small things that happened in her day that he always took for granted until he stopped hearing about them. james stood up, mid - order. five minutes later, he was in a cab to the airport.
which statement best describes how the flatness of the waitress’s character adds to the plot in the following passage?
4 of 18 questions
the waitress is very similar to james’s wife; this explains why she does not change in the passage.
the waitress is a very detailed character; this is why she reminds james of his wife and why he eventually goes to the airport.
the waitress represents the barrier between james and his wife; this is why james does not finish ordering food.
the waitress is just a way to remind james of his wife; the reminder pushes james to make a big decision.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The passage doesn't show the waitress is similar to James's wife; she's flat (not detailed), so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option 2: A flat character isn't "very detailed," so this contradicts the idea of the waitress being flat, incorrect.
3. Analyze Option 3: The waitress isn't a "barrier" in a way that explains not finishing the order; the reminder of his wife is the key, not the waitress as a barrier, incorrect.
4. Analyze Option 4: The waitress is a flat character (minimal detail) whose action (taking order) triggers James's memory of his wife, leading him to decide to go to the airport. This matches how a flat character can function to advance the plot by triggering a character's action.

Answer:

The waitress is just a way to remind James of his wife; the reminder pushes James to make a big decision.