16Hit1600
Craft and StructureHardFunction of a detail in a literary passage

Craft and Structure practice question

The following text is from a novel. He had learned the sea from his father, who had learned it from his, and what he knew of it he could not have written down: where the flood ran hardest, which cloud meant rain by noon, when the cormorants' flight said the mackerel were in. He had never once looked at a chart.

Which choice best describes the function of the final sentence?

  1. A. It emphasises that the character's knowledge is entirely inherited and practical rather than learned from documents.Correct
  2. B. It indicates that the character cannot read.
  3. C. It suggests that the character is careless.
  4. D. It implies that charts of the coast do not exist.

Answer: A. It emphasises that the character's knowledge is entirely inherited and practical rather than learned from documents.

Knowledge from father to son, none of it written; no chart needed.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. It indicates that the character cannot read.
Not reading charts is not being unable to read.
C. It suggests that the character is careless.
His knowledge is precise.
D. It implies that charts of the coast do not exist.
Charts exist; he doesn't use them.

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