4. PART A: Which of the following best identifies a theme in the text? This is for the story the golden touch By Nathaniel Hawthorne
A. Greed can have dire consequences.
B. Love others more than you love yourself.
C. Nature should be valued over riches.
D. Too much pride makes a person unpopular.
I think the answer is A
PART B: Which quote best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “All the beautiful roses, that smelled so sweetly and had so many lovely blushes, are blighted and spoilt!” (Paragraph 40)
B. “‘Ah, dear child,’ groaned Midas, dolefully, ‘I don’t know what is to become of your poor father!’” (Paragraph 55)
C. “…Have I not faithfully kept my promise with you? Have you not everything that your heart desired?” (Paragraph 69)
D. “Gold is not everything,” answered Midas. “And I have lost all that my heart really cared for.” (Paragraph 70)
I am having difficulty choosing between A or D if I did do part A right
The answer is A
Yes, you are correct that the answer to Part A is A. The theme of the story "The Golden Touch" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is that greed can have dire consequences.
Now, let's move on to Part B and find the quote that best supports this theme.
The quote that best supports the answer to Part A is D. "Gold is not everything," answered Midas. "And I have lost all that my heart really cared for." (Paragraph 70). This quote demonstrates that Midas realizes the negative consequences of his greed, as he has lost the things that truly matter to him.
To determine the best theme in the text, start by analyzing the story "The Golden Touch" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
In this story, King Midas is granted the power to turn everything he touches into gold. At first, he is overjoyed by his newfound ability and everyone, including himself, becomes obsessed with wealth. However, as the story unfolds, Midas realizes that his great wealth has come at a great cost. His daughter, whom he loves dearly, turns into a golden statue when he touches her. This tragic consequence of his greed serves as a turning point for King Midas, leading him to realize that love and human connection are more valuable than material wealth.
Now, let's assess the options for Part A:
A. Greed can have dire consequences.
This is a suitable theme since it accurately reflects the central message conveyed in the story. King Midas' insatiable greed for wealth leads to dire consequences, such as the loss of his daughter.
B. Love others more than you love yourself.
While this idea is present in the story as well, it is not the main theme. The primary focus is on the consequences of greed rather than the importance of selflessness.
C. Nature should be valued over riches.
Although the story involves a transformation of nature, the central theme revolves more around the negative effects of greed rather than the value of nature itself. So this is not the best answer.
D. Too much pride makes a person unpopular.
While pride does play a role in the story, leading Midas to seek more and more wealth, it is not the most significant theme compared to the consequences of his greed. Therefore, this is not the best answer.
Based on the analysis, the most appropriate answer for Part A is A. Greed can have dire consequences.
Moving on to Part B, the quote that best supports the answer to Part A is:
D. "Gold is not everything,” answered Midas. “And I have lost all that my heart really cared for.” (Paragraph 70)
This quote directly relates to the consequences of Midas' greed. Despite having the ability to turn everything into gold, he realizes that it is not worth losing what truly matters, such as his daughter's well-being and love.