Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyCharacter Change and Stasis

Read the passage carefully:

For forty years, Thomas had lived in the drafty stone cottage at the edge of the cliffs, drawing maps of the coastline using the same brass calipers and ink formula his father had passed down. The new railway line had cut through the valley, bringing tourists, summer homes, and a modern survey crew with their optical levels and glossy printed charts. Yesterday, the young surveyor had knocked on his door, presenting a map that showed the shoreline had receded by fifty yards over the last decade, rendering Thomas's drawings inaccurate. Thomas did not look at the surveyor's map. He merely set his tea down on the wooden table, wiped a speck of dust from his calipers, and returned to tracing the contours of the cliff exactly as he had done the morning before. When the surveyor spoke of the shifting tides and crumbling shale, Thomas waved his hand dismissively. 'The cliffs have stood for a thousand years,' he muttered, his eyes fixed on the ink drying on his parchment. 'A little water does not change the shape of the world.'

Thomas’s refusal to look at the surveyor's map and his decision to return to his tracing primarily serve to emphasize which of the following?

  1. Thomas's stubborn refusal to accept the reality of a changing landscapeAnswer
  2. B
    The author's personal view that modern mapmaking methods are less artistic than traditional techniques
  3. C
    The physical sequence of tasks Thomas performs to complete a map for the railway company
  4. D
    A moral conflict where Thomas represents pure goodness and the young surveyor represents absolute greed
  5. E
    The accuracy of Thomas's claim that the shoreline has not actually shifted

Answer

Thomas's stubborn refusal to accept the reality of a changing landscape
The correct answer identifies Thomas's behavior as an expression of stasis—specifically, his stubborn refusal to accept the reality of a changing coastline. By refusing to look at the surveyor's map and returning immediately to tracing the shoreline using his outdated methods, Thomas demonstrates that he is unwilling to adapt his perspective or habits to accommodate new facts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Thomas's behavior in response to new information.
Thomas refuses to look at the surveyor's map showing a receded shoreline and immediately goes back to his traditional drawing methods.
This behavior demonstrates his determination to ignore external changes and maintain his established routine.
2
Connect Thomas's behavior to the concept of character stasis.
Thomas's actions and his dialogue ('A little water does not change the shape of the world') show a lack of internal change or adaptation.
Character stasis is defined by a character remaining unchanged in their beliefs, attitudes, or habits despite external pressure or conflict.

Key Concept

Character stasis refers to a character's failure or refusal to change or adapt in response to external events, shifting circumstances, or new information.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Character Change and Stasis

More questions from this topic