Question

question 6 of 10
read these two passages from the way to rainy mountain:

once upon a time a group of young men sat down in a circle and spoke of mighty things. this is what they said: \when the fall of the year comes around, where does the summer go? where does it live?\ they decided to follow the sun southward to its home, and so they set out on horseback. . . .

some of earliest memories are of summers on rainy mountain creek, . . . now and then in winter, when i passed by the arbor on my way to draw water at the well, i looked inside and thought of the summer(60-61).

which sentence best explains how the author’s personal reflection affects the first passage?

a. it shows how the concept of summer has changed.
b. it invites the reader to reflect on the meaning of the theme.
c. it goes into greater detail about what happens to the men.
d. it adds a personal dimension to a general theme.

Explanation:

• Option A: The first passage is a story about young men's inquiry about summer, and the personal reflection is about the author's memories of summer, not showing a change in the concept of summer. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The personal reflection is the author's own memory, not directly inviting the reader to reflect on the theme's meaning. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The personal reflection is about the author's summer memories, not about the men in the first passage. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The first passage has a general theme (inquiry about summer's whereabouts), and the author's personal reflection (memories of summer on Rainy Mountain Creek) adds a personal, individual dimension to this general theme of summer. This fits.

Answer:

D. It adds a personal dimension to a general theme.