16Hit1600
Information and IdeasHardChoosing a quotation that illustrates a claim

Information and Ideas practice question

A student is writing an essay arguing that the narrator of a memoir regards her childhood home with affection despite its many faults.

Which quotation from the memoir would best support the student's claim?

  1. A. "The stairs groaned under every step, and I loved them for it."Correct
  2. B. "The roof had leaked since before I was born."
  3. C. "We sold the house in the spring, and I did not look back."
  4. D. "The neighbours never once complained about the noise."

Answer: A. "The stairs groaned under every step, and I loved them for it."

The claim has two parts: a fault, and affection in spite of it. Choice A has both in one sentence — groaning stairs (a fault) and 'I loved them for it' (affection because of it).

Why the other answers are wrong

B. "The roof had leaked since before I was born."
This shows a fault but says nothing about how the narrator felt about the house.
C. "We sold the house in the spring, and I did not look back."
'Did not look back' suggests the opposite of affection.
D. "The neighbours never once complained about the noise."
This is about the neighbours, not the narrator's feelings toward the home.

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