Question

select the correct text in the passage. which five sections in this excerpt from the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde show that lady bracknell places utmost importance on wealth and appearances? lady bracknell (sitting down again.): a moment, mr. worthing. a hundred and thirty thousand pounds! and in the funds! miss cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that i look at her. few girls of the present day have any really solid qualities, any of the qualities that last, and improve with time. we live, i regret to say, in an age of surfaces. (to cecily.) come over here, dear. (cecily goes across.) pretty child! your dress is sadly simple, and your hair seems almost as nature might have left it. but we can soon alter all that. a thoroughly experienced french maid produces a really marvellous result in a very brief space of time. i remember recommending one to young lady lancing, and after three months her own husband did not know her. jack: and after six months nobody knew her. lady bracknell (glares at jack for a few moments. then bends, with a practised smile, to cecily.): kindly turn round, sweet child. (cecily turns completely round.) no, the side view is what i want. (cecily presents her profile.) yes, quite as i expected. there are distinct social possibilities in your profile. the two weak points in our age are its want of principle and its want of profile. the chin a little higher, dear. style largely depends on the way the chin is worn. they are worn very high, just at present. algernon!

Explanation:

Each selected section directly shows Lady Bracknell prioritizing wealth or outward appearances:

1. The first section highlights her immediate positive reaction to Jack's large sum of money, linking it to her approval of Cecily.
2. Her comment about "an age of surfaces" explicitly states her focus on outward appearances over substance.
3. Her criticism of Cecily's dress and hair, plus the claim a maid can fix these, shows her fixation on curated looks.
4. The anecdote about Lady Lancing emphasizes that a maid can completely alter a person's appearance to the point of being unrecognizable, reinforcing her focus on surfaces.
5. Her analysis of Cecily's profile, focus on chin placement, and link to "style" further demonstrates her obsession with outward social appearances.

Answer:

1. A moment, Mr. Worthing. A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her.
2. We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces.
3. Pretty child! your dress is sadly simple, and your hair seems almost as Nature might have left it. But we can soon alter all that.
4. A thoroughly experienced French maid produces a really marvellous result in a very brief space of time. I remember recommending one to young Lady Lancing, and after three months her own husband did not know her.
5. Yes, quite as I expected. There are distinct social possibilities in your profile. The two weak points in our age are its want of principle and its want of profile. The chin a little higher, dear. Style largely depends on the way the chin is worn. They are worn very high, just at present.