The author can be most accurately described as \(\underline{\hspace{3cm}}\).
Show Hint
- imploring and desperate
- defensive and meticulous
- furious and insulted
- whimsical and descriptive
- unreliable and suspicious
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks us to characterize the author's tone and style based on the entire passage. We need to find the pair of adjectives that best fits the way the author presents himself and his work.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's break down the author's tone:
- Defensive: The author seems to anticipate criticism. He defends his choice of subject ("I do not believe that I have overstepped the bounds..."), his choice of material (explaining why he had to use his own dreams), and the personal nature of his examples ("This was painful, but unavoidable...").
- Meticulous: The author is very careful and precise in his explanations. He carefully lays out the theoretical importance of dreams, distinguishes between practical and theoretical value, explains the "deficiencies" and "surfaces of fracture," and details the reasons for his methodological choices.
Now let's evaluate the options:
- (A) He is pleading for patience, but "desperate" is too strong. His tone is more reasoned.
- (B) This pair fits perfectly. He is defending his choices while also being very careful and detailed (meticulous) in his explanations.
- (C) There is no evidence of fury or insult in the passage.
- (D) The tone is analytical and serious, not whimsical.
- (E) He is open about his methods and limitations, which makes him appear more reliable, not less.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The author's careful explanation of his methods and his anticipation of potential criticisms give the passage a tone that is both defensive and meticulous.
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