Question

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”

He was more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself. The late afternoon had grown hot and sultry and the country had flattened out. Deep in the sky a storm was preparing very slowly and without thunder as if it meant to drain every drop of air from the earth before it broke. There were times when Mr. Shiftlet preferred not to be alone. He felt too that a man with a car had a responsibility to others and he kept his eye out for a hitch-hiker. Occasionally he saw a sign that warned: “Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.”

Which statement most accurately represents the excerpt’s larger idea?
Beauty and truth appear in unexpected places.
Social isolation may lead people to act immorally.
Getting what you want may not make you happy.
You may not get everything that you have bargained for.

Answer 1

This statement is accurate for the paragraph.

Beauty and truth appear in unexpected places.

Explanation:

This paragraph is a beautiful example of writing meaningful prose and incorporating symbols of a story as a part of the narrative.

The passage employs the first part with the mind of the person who is depressed and contemplating death and as soon as that his going on something happens that must have moved him.

He sees the sign over here that says Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.

This may have made him shift his gaze away from death and it appears unexpectedly and almost miraculously for him.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

This statement is accurate for the paragraph.

Beauty and truth appear in unexpected places.

Step-by-step explanation:

This paragraph is a beautiful example of writing meaningful prose and incorporating symbols of a story as a part of the narrative.

The passage employs the first part with the mind of the person who is depressed and contemplating death and as soon as that his going on something happens that must have moved him.

He sees the sign over here that says Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.

This may have made him shift his gaze away from death and it appears unexpectedly and almost miraculously for him.