Question

Which sentence most clearly uses concrete description to move the reader to sadness? A. The loneliest time of my life was when I tried to find a job in the slums of Chicago back in 1982. B. A single streetlamp lit the empty street; then the light buzzed and faded, leaving him in darkness. C. The filthy crowd filled the streets; they ran like cattle being pursued by some fearsome predator. D. When someone close to you is feeling blue, a kind and encouraging word may be all they need.

Answer 1

A single streetlamp lit the empty street

Answer 2

Answer:

The best answer would be: "B. A single streetlamp lit the empty street; then the light buzzed and faded, leaving him in darkness".

Explanation:

Letter B is the best option because the sentence uses concrete elements to create a sad and lonely environment, such as by the use of "single streetlamp", "empty street", and the words "faded" and "darkness". All of this creates a sense of melancholy, either because there's a sudden single light in an empty street and a following sudden light fading and consequent darkness. Letter A sounds like a normal narrative, although the narrator describes the time as the loneliest. Letter C also sounds like a normal narrative and there is no sadness in its statement, although it may be interpretive. Then, letter D is also a normal statement, which sounds like a self-help idea rather than a concrete description of sadness.