Question 3 of 52
Which of the following sentences from “The Balek Scales” does not support the story's theme of oppression and inequality?
A. "For five generations they had been breathing in the dust which rose from the crushed flax stalks, letting themselves be killed off by slow degrees, a race of long-suffering, cheerful people who ate goat cheese, potatoes, and now and then a rabbit..."
B. "During the day they would carry the flax stalks to the antiquated machines, with no protection from the dust and at the mercy from the heat which came pouring out of the drying kilns."
C. "Each cottage contained only one bed, standing against the wall like a closet and reserved for the parents, while the children slept all round the room on benches."
D. "The children would crawl deep into the green darkness of the forest during the autumn when dampness drove the mushrooms out of the soil, and almost every family had its own places where it gathered mushrooms, places which were handed down in whispers from generation to generation."
D. "The children would crawl deep into the green darkness of the forest during the autumn when dampness drove the mushrooms out of the soil, and almost every family had its own places where it gathered mushrooms, places which were handed down in whispers from generation to generation."
To determine which sentence from “The Balek Scales” does not support the story's theme of oppression and inequality, we need to analyze each sentence and determine if it presents evidence of oppression or inequality.
Sentence A describes a long-suffering, cheerful people who have been breathing in dust and living in poor conditions. This suggests a theme of oppression and inequality as the people's quality of life is compromised.
Sentence B describes the workers having no protection from the dust and being at the mercy of the heat. This again supports the theme of oppression and inequality, as the workers are subjected to dangerous working conditions.
Sentence C describes the cramped and crowded living conditions, with only one bed for the parents and the children sleeping all round the room on benches. This presents another example of inequality and oppression as the living space is limited and inferior.
Sentence D does not directly mention oppression or inequality. It describes children gathering mushrooms in the forest during autumn, which does not highlight any oppressive or unequal situation.
Therefore, the sentence that does not support the story's theme of oppression and inequality is D.
Answer: D. "The children would crawl deep into the green darkness of the forest during the autumn when dampness drove the mushrooms out of the soil, and almost every family had its own places where it gathered mushrooms, places which were handed down in whispers from generation to generation."
This sentence does not directly support the story's theme of oppression and inequality. Instead, it describes a tradition of gathering mushrooms in the forest, which suggests a sense of community and shared knowledge among the families.