Writing a Research-Based Argumentative Essay about a Debatable Topic — Unit test
Question 1 • CISD TX- Eng II B CR Nov 2026
Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair” by Chinua Achebe."I shall never see her,” was the reply. From that night the father scarcely spoke to his son. He did not, however, cease hoping that he would realize how serious was the danger he was heading for. Day and night he put him in his prayers.Nnaemeka, for his own part, was very deeply affected by his father’s grief. But he kept hoping that it would pass away. If it had occurred to him that never in the history of his people had a man married a woman who spoke a different tongue, he might have been less optimistic. "It has never been heard,” was the verdict of an old man speaking a few weeks later. In that short sentence he spoke for all of his people. This man had come with others to commiserate with Okeke when news went round about his son’s behaviour. By that time the son had gone back to Lagos."It has never been heard,” said the old man again with a sad shake of his head."What did Our Lord say?” asked another gentleman. "Sons shall rise against their fathers; it is there in the Holy Book.”"It is the beginning of the end,” said another.
Answer
A
The older men in the village tell Okeke that he should respect Nnaemeka’s decision.
B
The older men in the village console Nnaemeka about Okeke’s attitude toward his choices.
C
The older men in the village commiserate with Okeke regarding Nnaemeka’s decision to disobey him.
D
The older men in the village think that Nnaemeka should be optimistic that Okeke will accept his decision.
Explanation
The passage says the older men came to “commiserate with Okeke” after hearing about his son’s behavior. Their comments that the marriage has “never been heard” and that it is “the beginning of the end” show they sympathize with Okeke and disapprove of Nnaemeka’s decision to marry against his father’s wishes. Therefore, C is correct.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.