Question

Which detail best reflects the author’s view of the village? a) Chichikov's amusement at the peasant's outburst prevented him from noticing that he had reached the centre of a large and populous village. b) Like the keys of a piano, the planks kept rising and falling, and unguarded passage over them entailed either a bump on the back of the neck or a bruise on the forehead or a bite on the tip of one's tongue. c) At the same time, Chichikov noticed a look of decay about the buildings of the village. d) Chichikov was driving over wooden pavements of a kind compared with which the cobblestones of the town had been as nothing.

Answer 1

The detail that captures the author's view of the village is the observation of building decay noted by a character, which directly describes the village's state.

Step-by-step explanation:

The detail that best reflects the author's view of the village is c) At the same time, Chichikov noticed a look of decay about the buildings of the village. This choice specifically conveys the author's perception of the village through Chichikov’s perspective, noting an observable attribute that can be directly associated with the village's condition. Choices a) and d) describe Chichikov's experiences and feelings rather than the village itself, while b) conveys information about the physical discomfort caused by the uneven planks, again focusing more on an individual's interaction with a specific aspect of the village but not the overall view of it.