Question

\will you buy my hair?\ asked della.
\i buy hair,\ said madame. \take yer hat off and lets have a sight at the looks of it.\
down rippled the brown cascade.
\twenty dollars,\ said madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.
\give it to me quick,\ said della.
oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. forget the hastened metaphor. she was ransacking the stores for jims present.
--\the gift of the magi,\
o. henry
based on dellas actions and feelings, what theme is best expressed in this passage?
○ receiving money makes people happy.
○ making sacrifices for others is unwise because it may not work out well.
○ sacrificing ones prized possession is the only way to achieve happiness.
○ making sacrifices for a loved one can make a person happy.

Explanation:

This passage is from The Gift of the Magi, where Della sells her prized hair (her most valued possession) quickly to get money to buy a gift for Jim, her loved one. She acts eagerly and then happily shops for his present, showing her sacrifice is driven by love and brings her purpose/joy. The other options are incorrect: the passage does not focus on money itself making her happy, frame the sacrifice as unwise, or claim it is the only path to happiness.

Answer:

D. Making sacrifices for a loved one can make a person happy.