Read this excerpt from "A Visit from the Goon Squad." At last he found Rebecca, smiling, holding Cara-Ann in her arms. She was d
ancing. They were too far away for Alex to reach them, and the distance felt irrevocable, a chasm that would keep him from ever again touching the delicate silk of Rebecca’s eyelids, or feeling, through his daughter’s ribs, the scramble of her heartbeat. Without the zoom, he couldn’t even see them. In desperation, he T’d Rebecca, pls wAt 4 me, my bUtiful wyf, then kept his zoom trained on her face until he saw her register the vibration, pause in her dancing, and reach for it. Which of these is the best question to address the societal issue raised in this excerpt? A. Does technology help or hinder meaningful communication?
B. Should proper spelling and grammar be required to send texts?
C. Is it dangerous to text while engaged in other activities?
D. How will technology affect the music industry of the future?
A. Does technology help or hinder meaningful communication?
Let's look at the other choices first. Option B is about proper spelling and grammar. There is nothing in this excerpt to indicate that proper spelling and grammar in a text message is necessary for the character or the reader to understand what is going on. Option C is simply not correct because the texting does not create a dangerous situation. Option D is simply wrong. The music industry is not an issue in the excerpt. Option A is the only one left. It is correct, because the text message sent by Alex does not fully convey the emotions and desperation that he seems to be feeling.
The right answer is A. When a progressive tense is used in the independent clause, the dependent clause will usually use the simple past tense. Hope this helps!
