Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 245: Answer and Explanation
Question: 245
The text is from Anatole France's 1912 novel The Gods Will Have Blood.
Those who make a trade out of foretelling the future rarely grow rich. Their attempts to deceive are too easily found out and arouse detestation. And yet it would be necessary to detest them much, much more if they foretold the future correctly. For a man's life would become intolerable, if he knew what was going to happen to him. He would be made aware of future evils, and would suffer their agonies in advance, while he would get no joy of present blessings since he would know how they would end. Ignorance is the necessary condition of human happiness, and it must be admitted that on the whole mankind observes that condition well. We are almost entirely ignorant of ourselves, absolutely of others. In ignorance, we find our bliss, in illusions, our happiness.
The main idea conveyed in the above monologue can best be summarized as
- A. let bygones be bygones.
- B. the truth will set you free.
- C. focus on the moment.
- D. do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
C. The narrator discusses the futility of spending time trying to predict the future. Additionally, he discusses how knowing the future would take away one's enjoyment in the present. Hence, he would advise people to “focus on the moment.” Choice A means to be forgiving, Choice B advocates seeking knowledge, and choice D advocates reciprocal kindness.
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