Question

instructions
read the question carefully and select the best answer.

which of these inferences about myrtle wilsons character is best supported by chapter 2?
a. she is in her mid - thirties and a little overweight in a sensuous way.

b. she is from a lower class and desperately aspires to move upward socially.

c. she wants to move from the depressing garage in the valley of ashes in order to go west.

d. she is in an abusive relationship with tom, but is too afraid to break up with him.

best:

Explanation:

To determine the best inference about Myrtle Wilson's character from Chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Physical descriptions (age, weight) are present, but they don’t deeply reflect her character or motivations.
• Option B: Myrtle lives in the Valley of Ashes (a symbol of lower - class despair) and desperately seeks social advancement (e.g., her affair with Tom, her affectations of upper - class behavior). This aligns with her core desire to escape her social status.
• Option C: The text does not support the idea that she wants to move West; her focus is on social climbing, not geographic relocation.
• Option D: While her relationship with Tom is complex, there’s no clear evidence of abuse or fear of breaking up—her motivation is social ascent, not fear of Tom.

Answer:

B. She is from a lower class and desperately aspires to move upward socially.