Question

Which of the following best summarizes Newland Archer's evening at the opera in this passage?

Answer 1

Incomplete question. Here are the options;

A. Young and wealthy, Newland Archer arrives at the opera and greets his party.  He is newly engaged to May Welland and is concerned with finding the perfect time to announce their betrothal. He becomes distressed when introduced to  May's shameful cousin, Ellen

B. Newland Archer arrives at the New York Opera and immediately looks for his fiancée, May Welland. He is distracted by the wealthy patrons of the opera and is late in finding May. When he finally joins his group, he discovers she has  already announced their engagement to everyone, including her cousin, Ellen

C. On the night he is to announce his engagement to May Welland, Newland  Archer decides to attend the opera. He is late and feels the judgment of the upper-class attendees. When he finally joins May, he decides that the announcement of their engagement should be done in private.

D. May Welland and Newland Archer are set to meet one another at the opera.  They have become engaged earlier in the day and intend to inform the only family member who is unaware of their decision, May's cousin, Ellen Newland agrees to tell Ellen of the engagement during the opera, but is worried she might oppose her cousin's decision to marry him.

Answer:

A. Young and wealthy, Newland Archer arrives at the opera and greets his party.  He is newly engaged to May Welland and is concerned with finding the perfect time to announce their betrothal. He becomes distressed when introduced to  May's shameful cousin, Ellen

Explanation:

Remember, in this line from the story in chapter 3 which about that conclusion, "A group of young men and girls were gathered about her, and there was much hand-clapping, laughing and pleasantry on which Mrs. Welland, standing slightly apart, shed the beam of a qualified approval. It was evident that Miss Welland was in the act of announcing her engagement, ...Archer paused a moment. It was at his express wish that the announcement had been made, and yet it was not thus that he would have wished to have his happiness known. To proclaim it in the heat and noise of a crowded ball-room was to rob it of the fine bloom of privacy which should belong to things nearest the heart."