Question

furthermore, rousseau follows the 52 perspicacious tendency of many books in which the writers insidiously degrade the sex while they are problematic, before that sex’s personal charms 53. let us all not take it! if wisdom is desirable on its own account, if virtue, to deserve the name, must be founded on knowledge, let us endeavor to strengthen our minds by reflection, till our heads become a balance for 54 their hearts. let us not confine all our thoughts to the petty occurrences of the day, but let the practice of every duty be subordinate to the grand one of 55 listening better and preparing our affections for a more exalted state! beware then, my friends, of suffering the heart to be moved by every trivial 56 incident: the reed is shaken by a breeze and annually dies, but the oak stands firm and for ages braves the storm. were we, indeed, only created to flutter our hour out and die, then let us indulge sensibility, and laugh at the severity of reason. yet, alas! 57 as a result, we should want strength of body and mind, and life would be lost in foolish pleasures or wearisome languor. but the system of education, which i earnestly wish to see exploded, seems to presuppose what ought never to be taken for granted: that virtue shields us from the casualties of life, and that fortune, slipping off her bandage, will smile on a 58 well - educated female. whilst, on the contrary, the reward which virtue promises to her votaries is confined, it is clear, to their own bosoms, and often must they contend with the most voracious worldly cares and bear with the vices and humors of 54 their a) no change b) our c) my d) your 55 listening better a) no change b) fighting back against oppression c) accepting other points of view d) improving our minds 56 incident: the reed a) no change b) incident, the reed c) incident and the reed d) incident, and the reed 57 as a result a) no change b) even then c) before this d) so naturally 58 well educated

Explanation:

54.

The sentence uses "our heads" and "our thoughts", so the possessive pronoun must match the first-person plural context. "their" does not align, while "our" is consistent.

55.

The preceding text calls for focusing on grand, exalted goals instead of petty daily issues. "improving our minds" fits this theme of cultivating a higher, more meaningful state, unlike the unrelated options.

56.

The original phrase creates a comma splice (two independent clauses joined only by a comma). Adding "and the reed" connects the two related clauses about the trivial incident's effect on the reed, fixing the grammatical error while maintaining meaning.

57.

The sentence shifts from indulging sensibility to the need for strength; "Even then" correctly signals this contrast and continuation of the logical flow, making it the best fit over the other transition options.

58.

The sentence discusses a well-educated female in the context of virtue's reward. "Even then" emphasizes that despite the confinement of virtue's reward, the well-educated female will still smile, which fits the contrasting logic of the text.

Answer:

1. B) our
2. D) improving our minds
3. C) incident, and the reed
4. B) Even then
5. B) Even then