Question

My favorite pastime is to listen to others speaking. I never seem able to think of any topics worthy of conversation myself, but I am almost inclined to say that my ability to listen amounts to an art. I can remain silent with an air of absorbing interest, and once in a while offer brief comment, not to set forth an opinion or display any knowledge—for I have none to spare—but merely to suggest new channels to the speaker and introduce variety, that he may not tire of hearing himself speak.
from "A Dry Spell" by Einar H. Kvaran HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!1 PLEASE I NEED THE ANSWER ASAP!!
7
In this passage, how does point of view affect the story?
A.
It provides a general picture of the main character's life.
B.
It gives a "fly on the wall" perspective of the main character.
C.
It provides an objective look at the main character.
D.
It gives an intimate view inside the main character.

Answer 1

The answer is D

It gives an intimate view inside the main character.

This passage gives an intimate view inside the main character; it gives us his intimate tastes for listening to other people speaking. He describes very well these thoughts as something he never shares with anyone, he mentions these thoughts only to himself like inner wisdom, like holding a prize, and he knows it is a prize that nobody or very few possess. This is why he feels proud of himself, because he is one of the very few who can really listen, for him it is listening a skill that overpowers humanity, a humanity so timeless to give importance to what really empowers it.  He considers this skill, this art of listening so important that he never sees his own topics of conversation as worthy of sharing and when he speaks it is because he feels that what he is listening lacks  variety and decides to intervene so that the speaker can find different words to express his or her ideas.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: It gives an intimate view inside the main character

The main character's point of view and the way he is said to relate to what is around him, through his preferences, his perceptions, his senses, bring to the story a more intimate view of this character. Excerpts like "I never seem able to" or "my ability" show strengths and weaknesses of the character. His strength was to be a good listener, his weakness would perhaps be his shyness or sense of inability to comment.