Kew Gardens

Question

by Virginia Wolff

Thus one couple after another with much the same irregular and aimless movement passed the flower-bed and were enveloped in layer after layer of green blue vapour, in which at first their bodies had substance and a dash of colour, but later both substance and colour dissolved in the green-blue atmosphere. How hot it was! So hot that even the thrush chose to hop, like a mechanical bird, in the shadow of the flowers, with long pauses between one movement and the next; instead of rambling vaguely the white butterflies danced one above another, making with their white shifting flakes the outline of a shattered marble column above the tallest flowers; the glass roofs of the palm house shone as if a whole market full of shiny green umbrellas had opened in the sun; and in the drone of the aeroplane the voice of the summer sky murmured its fierce soul. Yellow and black, pink and snow white, shapes of all these colours, men, women, and children were spotted for a second upon the horizon, and then, seeing the breadth of yellow that lay upon the grass, they wavered and sought shade beneath the trees, dissolving like drops of water in the yellow and green atmosphere, staining it faintly with red and blue. It seemed as if all gross and heavy bodies had sunk down in the heat motionless and lay huddled upon the ground, but their voices went wavering from them as if they were flames lolling from the thick waxen bodies of candles. Voices. Yes, voices. Wordless voices, breaking the silence suddenly with such depth of contentment, such passion of desire, or, in the voices of children, such freshness of surprise; breaking the silence? But there was no silence; all the time the motor omnibuses were turning their wheels and changing their gear; like a vast nest of Chinese boxes all of wrought steel turning ceaselessly one within another the city murmured; on the top of which the voices cried aloud and the petals of myriads of flowers flashed their colours into the air.

"Kew Gardens" by Virginia Woolf

A Cup of Tea
by Katherine Mansfield

The discreet door shut with a click. She was outside on the step, gazing at the winter afternoon. Rain was falling, and with the rain it seemed the dark came too, spinning down like ashes. There was a cold bitter taste in the air, and the new-lighted lamps looked sad. Sad were the lights in the houses opposite. Dimly they burned as if regretting something. And people hurried by, hidden under their hateful umbrellas. Rosemary felt a strange pang. She pressed her muff to her breast; she wished she had the little box, too, to cling to. Of course, the car was there. She’d only to cross the pavement. But still she waited. There are moments, horrible moments in life, when one emerges from shelter and looks out, and it’s awful. One oughtn’t to give way to them. One ought to go home and have an extra-special tea.

"A Cup of Tea" by Katherine Mansfield

Question
Use the passages to answer the question.

Which of the following summarizes how the passages both support themes about nature and human perception?

(1 point)
Responses

Nature has a power that is far beyond what humanity can see.
Nature has a power that is far beyond what humanity can see.

Nature is beyond human perception; it is something that goes on beside people without their awareness.
Nature is beyond human perception; it is something that goes on beside people without their awareness.

Nature is something that has far more power than humanity.
Nature is something that has far more power than humanity.

Nature and humanity can be reflections of one another.

Answer 1

The best summary that captures how the passages support themes about nature and human perception is:

Nature and humanity can be reflections of one another.

In "Kew Gardens," Woolf illustrates the interconnectedness of human experiences and the vibrant aspects of nature, highlighting how both merge and influence perception. In contrast, Mansfield's "A Cup of Tea" presents a more introspective view where nature reflects the protagonist's emotional state, emphasizing a deeper awareness of the surrounding world, particularly in contrast to her internal feelings. Both passages illustrate the relationship between human emotion and the natural environment, emphasizing how they can mirror and shape each other.