Question

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Contest" is a piece of historical fiction because it focuses on the historical figure of Nero and recreates ancient Rome and Greece. In the story, Doyle indicates that the Greeks took their cultural performances and art seriously and were good judges of art. Which of the following lines from "The Contest" best support that claim? ". . . but at the same time he understood that only a master of song could receive such a reception from a Greek audience." "Every Greek was a trained critic, and as unsparing in his hisses as he was lavish in his applause." "But now, as the man stopped and wiped the abundant sweat from his fat face, the whole assembly burst into a delirium of appreciation." "Soldiers ran to pull him down, and the whole audience was in confusion, some of the bolder cheering the sentiments of the shepherd, and others crying that he should be cast out of the building." "It was all simple and childlike, but it went to the hearts of the Olympians, for it spoke of the land which they knew and loved."

Answer 1

Doyle indicates that Greeks took their cultural performances and arts seriously and were good judges of art. The lines from "the contest" supports the claim is in choice B.
 It states that "Every Greek was a trained critic, and as unsparing in his hisses as he was lavish in his applause." 
"But now, as the man stopped and wiped the abundant sweat from his fat face, the whole assembly burst into a delirium of appreciation."

Answer 2

Answer:

Option B. the following line from "The Contest"best support Doyle's claim that the Greeks took their cultural performances and art seriously and were good judges of art:

"Every Greek was a trained critic, and as unsparing in his hisses as he was lavish in his applause."

Explanation:

The line supports Doyle's claim that the Greeks took their cultural performances and art seriously and were good judges of art as it states, firstly, that every Greek is a trained critic, meaning that they are used to attending art performances. Secondly, it states that they are good and fair judges of art, as they are equally severe when they do not like a performance, as they are generous in appreciating a good act.