Sense and Sensibility is an 1811 novel by Jane Austen. In the novel, Austen describes Marianne Dashwood's ability to persuade...
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Sense and Sensibility is an 1811 novel by Jane Austen. In the novel, Austen describes Marianne Dashwood's ability to persuade others of the rightness of her artistic judgments, as is evident when Marianne visits with John Willoughby, a potential suitor: ______
Which quotation from Sense and Sensibility most effectively illustrates the claim?
A
'Above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.'
B
'Their taste was strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by each—or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.'
C
'It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.'
D
'They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of his opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books.'
Solution
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Sense and Sensibility is an 1811 novel by Jane Austen.' |
|
| 'In the novel, Austen describes Marianne Dashwood's ability to persuade others of the rightness of her artistic judgments' |
|
| 'as is evident when Marianne visits with John Willoughby, a potential suitor: ______' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The content establishes that Marianne Dashwood has the ability to persuade others that her artistic judgments are correct.
Argument Flow: The content provides context about the novel, makes a specific claim about Marianne's persuasive abilities regarding artistic taste, and sets up that evidence for this claim can be found in her interactions with Willoughby.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The quotation must show Marianne actually persuading someone about artistic taste or judgment
- It should demonstrate her success in changing someone's mind or getting them to agree with her artistic views
- The persuasion should be clearly about artistic/aesthetic matters (books, music, art, etc.)
Answer Choices Explained
A
'Above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows Marianne approving of Willoughby's taste in music and dancing
- This is her reacting positively to his views, not persuading him of her views
B
'Their taste was strikingly alike. The same books, the same passages were idolized by each—or if any difference appeared, any objection arose, it lasted no longer than till the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes could be displayed.'
✓ Correct
- Directly states that when artistic disagreements arise, they don't last long due to 'the force of her arguments and the brightness of her eyes'
- This perfectly illustrates the claim - she uses arguments to persuade others of her artistic judgments
C
'It was only necessary to mention any favourite amusement to engage her to talk. She could not be silent when such points were introduced, and she had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows that Marianne is eager and willing to discuss artistic topics
- Being talkative about art is different from being persuasive about artistic judgments
D
'They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general conformity of judgment in all that related to either. Encouraged by this to a further examination of his opinions, she proceeded to question him on the subject of books.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows mutual agreement and shared artistic taste from the start
- No persuasion is needed or shown since they already agree
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