Question

Choose the sentence that best summarizes this passage by Samuel Johnson:

In the romances formerly written, every transaction and sentiment was so remote from all that passes among men, that the reader was in very little danger of making any applications to himself; the virtues and crimes were equally beyond his sphere of activity; and he amused himself with heroes and with traitors, deliverers and persecutors, as with beings of another species, whose actions were regulated upon motives of their own, and who had neither faults nor excellencies in common with himself. But when an adventurer is levelled with the rest of the world, and acts in such scenes of the universal drama, as may be the lot of any other man; young spectators fx their eyes upon him with closer attention, and hope, by observing his behaviour and success, to regulate their own practices, when they shall be engaged in the like part. (No. 4, The Rambler)
a. Young readers only take life advice or application from works of fction that are more realistic and not from fantasy stories.
b. Young readers relate more to the heroes of fantasy stories than they do to real-world adventurers.
c. Young readers closely observe modern adventurers in fiction so that they can write letters of criticism to the author.
d. When the conflict in a story is universal and realistic to our world, young readers lose interest.

Answer 1

The correct summary of Samuel Johnson's passage is that readers engage more with realistic fiction as it is more applicable to real-life situations, making option 'a' the best choice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asked to choose the option that best summarizes Samuel Johnson's perspective on the impact of realistic fiction on readers. The passage suggests that readers become more engaged and reflective when a story is realistic and reflects their own world, as opposed to fantastical tales that are less relatable. Modern readers find it easier to apply the scenarios and lessons from realistic fiction to their own lives than those from older, more fantastical romances. Johnson's assertion is that this engagements lends a form of practical education to the readers, as they can take cues from the characters' behaviors and the outcomes of their actions in comparable real-life situations.

Therefore, the correct option that best summarizes Samuel Johnson's passage is that young readers only take life advice, or see applications to themselves, from works of fiction that are realistic, rather than from far-fetched fantasy stories. This makes option 'a' the most fitting choice since it aligns with the idea that portrayals reflecting the real world hold more relevance and significance to younger readers.