The novelist's early works displayed a didactic quality that many critics found off-putting, with characters delivering lengthy moral lessons that interrupted narrative momentum.
4
readingAs used in the text, what does the word "didactic" most nearly mean?
A
subtle
B
entertaining
C
brief
D
preachy
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. The passage describes "lengthy moral lessons" critics found off-putting. "Preachy" means excessively moralistic, fitting this instructive quality.
Choice A is incorrect because "subtle" contradicts lengthy lessons. Choice B is incorrect because "entertaining" contradicts off-putting. Choice C is incorrect because "brief" contradicts lengthy.