Question

In paragraph 2, the narrator says the gentleman seemed the very

epitome of eighty years.
What does the phrase seemed the very epitome of eighty years
mean in the passage?
1. seemed to be the ideal example of an eighty-year-old
2. seemed to be the exact opposite of an eighty-year-old
3. seemed to have new experiences as an eighty-year-old
4. seemed to have few expectations as an eighty-year-old

Answer 1

The phrase 'seemed the very epitome of eighty years' means that the gentleman appeared to be the ideal example of an eighty-year-old, with characteristics commonly associated with that age.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase seemed the very epitome of eighty years suggests that the gentleman in question was a perfect example or embodiment of what one might expect an eighty-year-old to be. This could include aspects like appearance, behavior, and perhaps even the wisdom or frailty commonly associated with that age. The phrase indicates that, in the narrator's view, the gentleman displayed characteristics so typical of an octogenarian that he could stand as a defining representation of that age group.