Question

read this sentence about della from \the gift of the magi.\
once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.
what theme do della’s actions in this sentence best suggest?
○ sacrifice is more important than true love.
○ sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy.
○ sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest.
○ sacrifice for a loved one does not always pay off

Explanation:

To determine the theme, analyze Della's action: she "faltered" and cried, showing the difficulty of her sacrifice (likely for Jim, from "The Gift of the Magi").

• "Sacrifice is more important than true love" is incorrect, as sacrifice stems from love, not surpass it.
• "Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy" matches her faltering/tearing, showing the struggle.
• "Sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest" is not supported (the text focuses on the difficulty, not fulfillment from sacrifice).
• "Sacrifice for a loved one does not always pay off" is incorrect, as the story’s end shows mutual sacrifice’s value, and the sentence doesn’t address payoff.

Answer:

B. Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy