1. I had first become acquainted with my Italian friend by meeting him at certain great houses, where he taught his own language and I taught drawing. All I then knew of the history of his life was, that he had once held a situation in the University of Padua; that he had left Italy for political reasons (the nature of which he uniformly declined to mention to any one); and that he had been for many years respectably established in London as a teacher of languages.
2. The ruling idea of his life appeared to be, that he was bound to show his gratitude to the country which had afforded him an asylum and a means of subsistence, by doing his utmost to turn himself into an Englishman. Not content with paying the nation in general the compliment of invariably carrying an umbrella, and invariably wearing gaiters and a white hat, the Professor further aspired to become an Englishman in his habits and amusements, as well as in his personal appearance. Finding us distinguished, as a nation, by our love of athletic exercises, the little man, in the innocence of his heart, devoted himself impromptu to all our English sports and pastimes, whenever he had the opportunity of joining them.
This sentence is from the passage.
"The ruling idea of his life appeared to be, that he was bound to show his gratitude ude to the country which had afforded him an asylum and a means of subsistence, by doing his utmost to turn himself into an Englishman." (Paragraph 2)
What does the phrase afforded him an asylum and a means of subsistence suggest about the narrator's friend from Italy?
1. The friend found living in England to be less expensive.
2. The friend left Italy to pursue a more secure way of life.
3. The friend planned to earn the money to return to Italy.
4. The friend thought England was a friendlier place to live.
1 answer
The phrase "afforded him an asylum and a means of subsistence" suggests that the narrator's friend from Italy left his home country due to political reasons and sought refuge in England, where he found safety (asylum) and the ability to earn a living (means of subsistence).
Therefore, the most fitting interpretation is:
2. The friend left Italy to pursue a more secure way of life.
This option captures the essence of the friend seeking safety and financial stability in England.
