Question

Read the following excerpt from “The Gift of the Magi” and answer the question. For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone. But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim! And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it." Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled."Della," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on." The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

Which quote from the passage best illustrates Della’s optimism?
 
 “…and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say:

"My hair grows so fast, Jim!” “…her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession.”

“And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.”
 
“Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.”

Answer 1

I think the quote that is used to describe Della's optimism is " My hair grows fast, Jim!" "... her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. " Hope this helps!

1!

Answer 2

Answer: I would contend that the right answer is the A) “…and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say..."

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that options C and D should be discarded, since they do not illustrate Della’s optimism - they both have a pessimistic tone. Option B does in part illustrate Della’s optimism, since she is saying that her hair will grow and she will eventually be able to use the beautiful combs, but, even though she had craved for them, she had never hoped to own them, so it is possible to contend that that does not illustrate optimism, or hopefulness. Option A is, therefore, the correct option. She got the combs that she had wanted for a long time right when she had decided to get rid of her hair, but, in spite of it, she decided to embrace them, to make them hers forever, and smiled at Jim hopefully and enthusiastically before saying: "My hair grows so fast!"