Question

Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Directly Stated Character or Subject Traits

Silvia Mercer approached the restoration of the fifteenth-century Flemish tapestries with a singular, quiet exasperation. While her peers celebrated the vibrant, newly synthesized dyes that promised to return the faded wool to its original luster, Silvia preferred the muted tones of traditional organic pigments. To her, the modern restorations looked loud and artificial, lacking the subtle depth of natural indigo and madder. She spent hours in her dim, drafty studio in Ghent, methodically unpicking the clumsy repairs of nineteenth-century conservators who had used synthetic threads. Despite the painstaking nature of the work, Silvia was not known for her patience; rather, she possessed a fierce, restless energy that drove her to work late into the night, refusing assistance from apprentices. She often described herself as a 'reluctant custodian' of the past, motivated not by a sentimental love for history, but by a stubborn refusal to let poor craftsmanship endure.

According to the passage, Silvia Mercer is characterized by which of the following traits?

  1. A
    a sentimental appreciation for Flemish history
  2. B
    a patient approach to instructing her apprentices
  3. a restless energy and a lack of patienceAnswer
  4. D
    an eager acceptance of modern synthetic materials

Answer

a restless energy and a lack of patience
The passage explicitly characterizes Silvia Mercer by stating that she 'was not known for her patience; rather, she possessed a fierce, restless energy.' This directly supports the characterization of her having a restless energy and a lack of patience.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the portion of the passage that describes Silvia Mercer's personality and character traits.
The passage states: 'Despite the painstaking nature of the work, Silvia was not known for her patience; rather, she possessed a fierce, restless energy...'
This identifies the specific sentence containing directly stated traits about the subject.
2
Compare the stated traits from the passage with the given options.
The traits 'not known for her patience' and 'restless energy' directly correspond to the option 'a restless energy and a lack of patience.'
To confirm which option is a direct paraphrase of the explicitly stated details in the text.

Key Concept

Identifying Directly Stated Character or Subject Traits
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