Question

Passage:
“His life was divided between the books, his friends, and long walks. A solitary man, he worked at all hours without much method, and probably courted his fatal illness in this way. To his own name there is not much to show; but such was his liberality that he was continually helping others, and fruits of his erudition are widely scattered, and have gone to increase many a comparative stranger’s reputation.” (From E.V. Lucas’s “A Funeral”)
Question: Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the following statements is true?

• A. The solitary man described in the passage is dead.
• B. Strangers helped create a grand reputation for the solitary man described in the passage.
• C. The solitary man described in the passage found joy in scattering fruits.
• D. The solitary man worked in a court where he fell ill.

Hint:

When solving reading comprehension, focus on direct statements from the passage. Avoid interpreting metaphors literally or adding external assumptions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the theme.
The passage is taken from E.V. Lucas’s essay “A Funeral”. The description talks about a “solitary man” whose life revolved around books, friends, and long walks. It also mentions he “courted his fatal illness” – meaning his lifestyle led to his death.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) \emph{The solitary man described in the passage is dead.}
→ Correct. The text explicitly refers to his “fatal illness” and appears in a work titled “A Funeral,” confirming his death. (B) \emph{Strangers helped create a grand reputation for the solitary man.}
→ Incorrect. It says the man’s erudition helped strangers gain reputation, not the other way around. (C) \emph{The solitary man found joy in scattering fruits.}
→ Incorrect. The “fruits of his erudition” is metaphorical (knowledge, learning), not literal fruits. (D) \emph{The solitary man worked in a court where he fell ill.}
→ Incorrect. There is no reference to a court.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the only statement consistent with the passage is that the man is dead. Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{Option (A)}} \]