1

Set 10: Command of Evidence

Explanation

Answer: C

PASSAGE

The following is a draft of an essay about F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby*. In the novel, Fitzgerald portrays the 1920s as an era of unprecedented wealth and excess, but also moral decay. He uses the character of Jay Gatsby to illustrate the hollowness of the American Dream when it is pursued solely through material accumulation. Gatsby's lavish parties are attended by hundreds of people, yet he remains fundamentally isolated.

Which quotation from the novel best illustrates the student's claim about Gatsby's isolation?

A. 'I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited.'
B. 'He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel.'
C. 'A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host.'✓ Correct
D. 'In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.'

Detailed Explanation

This question requires you to identify evidence that supports a claim. **Choice C is the best answer.** The student's claim is that Gatsby remains 'fundamentally isolated' despite his wealth and parties. The quote describes a 'sudden emptiness' and explicitly mentions 'complete isolation,' directly supporting the claim. Choice D describes the party itself, not Gatsby's isolation. Choice B describes his wealth (shirts), not isolation. Choice A discusses the narrator's invitation, not Gatsby's internal state. Strong evidence directly addresses the claim without requiring additional interpretation. When evaluating options, look for quotes or data that explicitly support the statement. Weak evidence may be tangentially related but doesn't provide direct proof.

Key Evidence:

• "complete isolation the figure of the host"

Why others are wrong: D (Irrelevant - describes the party scene), B (Irrelevant - describes material wealth), A (Irrelevant - describes Nick Carraway).

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