Globalization and the Information Age: Postmodernism into the Twenty-First Century — Test
Question 8 • Literature and Composition III
Read the excerpt from Infinite Jest . ‘My application’s not bought,’ I am telling them, calling into the darkness of the red cave that opens out before closed eyes. ‘I am not just a boy who plays tennis. I have an intricate history. Experiences and feelings. I’m complex. ‘I read,’ I say. ‘I study and read. I bet I’ve read everything you’ve read. Don’t think I haven’t. I consume libraries. I wear out spines and ROM-drives. I do things like get in a taxi and say, “The library, and step on it.” My instincts concerning syntax and mechanics are better than your own, I can tell, with due respect. What conclusion can readers draw about this character vs. society conflict?
Answer
A
The narrator is uncomfortable and defensive.
B
The narrator earns good grades in school.
C
The narrator is being punished for his behavior.
D
The narrator has destroyed school property.
Explanation
The narrator insists that he is more than “just a boy who plays tennis” and repeatedly lists his reading and intellectual abilities. His urgent, argumentative tone—especially calling into the darkness and comparing himself favorably with others—suggests that he feels judged and is trying to defend himself. The excerpt does not establish his grades, punishment, or damage to school property.
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