Question

As for this city's government, I don't want to say much, except that it is a shame – a shame; but if I should live twenty-five years longer – and there is no reason why I shouldn't – I think I'll see women handle the ballot. Which quotation correctly uses ellipsis to shorten Twain’s words?

Answer 1

To use ellipsis in Twain's words one must maintain the original meaning and tone by condensing the text and indicating omissions with three dots.

Step-by-step explanation:

To correctly use ellipsis to shorten Twain's words, one would need to condense the original text while still preserving the original meaning and tone. Ellipsis is a series of three dots (...) that indicates the omission of words from a quoted passage. Here is a quotation that uses ellipsis properly:

"I pity the man...with the cold, dry logic of business...What man can, without aversion, turn from the...gentle words and caressing hand of that dear blessed mother...to face...the idea of a female justice of the peace or township constable?"

This shortened quote maintains the key elements and sentiments of Twain's original expressions regarding attitudes towards women in public roles while omitting some details to make the quote more concise.

Answer 2

The best answer to the question: Which quotation correctly uses ellipsis to shorten Twain´s words, would be: the second one "and there is no reason why I shouldn´t".

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason for this being the correct answer comes from understanding the purpose of an ellipsis, or ellipses. Ellipses are punctuation marks, just like comas, or periods, that have the specific purpose of marking portions of a written sentence, paragraph, passage, or an entire text, that are not really needed information, but rather added, and which if removed from the text will not affect the overall comprehension of the meaning of the text. In this case, Twain saying "and there is no reason why I shouldn´t" in regards to how long he expects to live, is added information to the main passage that if removed from it will not affect the overall understanding of his meaning.