At last he rose abruptly, put on his hat, and approached the young lady. He placed himself before her picture and looked at it for some moments, during which she pretended to be quite unconscious of his inspection. Then, addressing her with the single word which constituted the strength of his French vocabulary, and holding up one finger in a manner which appeared to him to illuminate his meaning, "Combien?" he abruptly demanded.

Question

The artist stared a moment, gave a little pout, shrugged her shoulders, put down her palette and brushes, and stood rubbing her hands.

"How much?" said our friend, in English. "Combien?"

"Monsieur wishes to buy it?" asked the young lady in French.

"Very pretty, splendide. Combien?" repeated the American.

"It pleases monsieur, my little picture? It's a very beautiful subject," said the young lady.

"The Madonna, yes; I am not a Catholic, but I want to buy it. Combien? Write it here." And he took a pencil from his pocket and showed her the fly-leaf of his guide-book. She stood looking at him and scratching her chin with the pencil. "Is it not for sale?" he asked. And as she still stood reflecting, and looking at him with an eye which, in spite of her desire to treat this avidity of patronage as a very old story, betrayed an almost touching incredulity, he was afraid he had offended her. She simply trying to look indifferent, and wondering how far she might go. "I haven't made a mistake-pas insulte, no?" her interlocutor continued. "Don't you understand a little English?"

The young lady's aptitude for playing a part at short notice was remarkable. She fixed him with her conscious, perceptive eye and asked him if he spoke no French. Then, "Donnez!" she said briefly, and took the open guide-book. In the upper corner of the fly-leaf she traced a number, in a minute and extremely neat hand. Then she handed back the book and took up her palette again.

Our friend read the number: "2,000 francs." He said nothing for a time, but stood looking at the picture, while the copyist began actively to dabble with her paint. "For a copy, isn't that a good deal?" he asked at last. "Pas beaucoup?"

The young lady raised her eyes from her palette, scanned him from head to foot, and alighted with admirable sagacity upon exactly the rig answer. "Yes, it's a good deal. But my copy has remarkable qualities, it is worth nothing less."

Which best describes how the American's behavior contributes to the development of the young lady's character in this passage?

1. His admiration of her work displays her eagerness for approval by others.

2. His concern about her feelings displays her eagerness to be understood by others.

3. His admiration for her subject displays her readiness to share religion with others.

4. His awkwardness as a foreigner displays her readiness to take advantage of others.

Answer 1

The best answer is:

1. His admiration of her work displays her eagerness for approval by others.

In the passage, the American's appreciation for the young lady's artwork prompts her to engage with him about the sale. His persistent questioning about the price (using "Combien?" and "How much?") highlights her desire for his approval and recognition of her artistic talent. The way she initially seeks to appear indifferent and then takes the opportunity to demonstrate her skills (both in her painting and in negotiating the price) suggests her eagerness for validation of her work from someone who admires it.