9
lesson pretestMultiple Choice

Pretest

Question 9 • Language Arts 11

How is naturalism reflected in "A Man Said to the Universe"?

Answer
A
The universe’s response to the man presents a cynical view of the significance of humankind.
B
The universe’s response to the man reflects Darwin’s theory of natural selection, since the universe tells the man he is not important.
C
The man’s insistence that he exists supports the idea that society has a significant role in forming the individual.
D
The idea of the man talking to the universe reflects the romantic ideal that each person is unique and special.

Explanation

Naturalism often portrays people as subject to an indifferent world and emphasizes how little control or importance they have within it. In the poem, the universe acknowledges that the man exists but says this creates no obligation toward him. That response presents a cynical view of humankind’s significance, which matches choice A.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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