Cumulative Exam — Cumulative exam

Question 1 • KAVE-English Language Arts 12 B

Read this sentence from a report on Oscar Wilde.Oscar Wilde uses humor to critique society and show that there is too much concern about coming from a proper family.

Answer

“

“Where did the charitable gentleman who had a first-class ticket for this seaside resort find you?”

“

“Yes, Lady Bracknell. I was in a hand-bag—a somewhat large, black leather hand-bag, with handles to it—an ordinary hand-bag in fact.”

“

“To be born, or at any rate bred, in a hand-bag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life . . .”

“

“May I ask you then what you would advise me to do? I need hardly say I would do anything in the world to ensure Gwendolen’s happiness.”

Explanation

Lady Bracknell treats Jack’s unusual discovery in a handbag as proof that he lacks a proper family background. Her exaggerated claim that this shows “a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life” makes the concern seem absurd and critiques society’s obsession with respectable origins. Choice C best shows Wilde using humor to make that point.

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