Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales.For I’ll have money, wool, and cheese, and wheat,Though given by the poorest serving-lad,Or by the poorest widow in the place,Were all her children dying of famine,No, no! I’ll drink the ichor of the vine,And have a pretty girl in every town.But hear me out now, gentlemen . . .
Answer
A
The Pardoner’s poverty suggests that the Church is too stingy.
B
The Pardoner’s excessive drinking underscores the need for moderation.
C
The Pardoner’s indulgent spending draws attention to the need for restraint.
D
The Pardoner’s disregard for people experiencing poverty reveals the Church’s hypocrisy.
Explanation
The Pardoner admits he will take money and goods even from a poor widow whose children are starving, then spend them on wine and women. His willingness to exploit the desperate contrasts with the Church’s supposed duty to care for the poor and live morally. This reveals the Church’s hypocrisy, as described in choice D.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.