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09:Pretest
HS: English 3B [M] (Prescriptive) (GP) / 9:Contemporary Literature
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9.
Think about each character’s definition of success in “The First Seven Years” by Bernard Malamud. What does the story suggest about success?
Success and happiness are two similar ideas.
Success is determined by how much money you have.
A person’s level of education determines his or her success.
There is more than one way to measure success.
9 of 20
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In "The First Seven Years" by Bernard Malamud, the story suggests that success is multifaceted and can be measured in various ways. Each character embodies different definitions and pursuits of success that reflect their personal values, ambitions, and societal pressures.
1. **Success and happiness are two similar ideas:** While the story may touch on the connection between success and personal fulfillment, it ultimately presents more complex views.
2. **Success is determined by how much money you have:** This perspective is represented by certain characters, particularly those who equate financial stability with achievement. However, the narrative complicates this view.
3. **A person’s level of education determines his or her success:** Education plays a significant role in the characters' lives, highlighting that intellectual and personal development can influence success. However, the story indicates that education alone does not guarantee happiness.
4. **There is more than one way to measure success:** This option aligns best with the overall theme of the story. The characters experience and pursue different paths that challenge the traditional notions of success based solely on wealth or education, suggesting that fulfillment can be found in personal relationships, passions, and individual choices.
In conclusion, "The First Seven Years" ultimately points toward the idea that success is subjective and can vary greatly from one individual to another, supporting the notion that "there is more than one way to measure success."
1. **Success and happiness are two similar ideas:** While the story may touch on the connection between success and personal fulfillment, it ultimately presents more complex views.
2. **Success is determined by how much money you have:** This perspective is represented by certain characters, particularly those who equate financial stability with achievement. However, the narrative complicates this view.
3. **A person’s level of education determines his or her success:** Education plays a significant role in the characters' lives, highlighting that intellectual and personal development can influence success. However, the story indicates that education alone does not guarantee happiness.
4. **There is more than one way to measure success:** This option aligns best with the overall theme of the story. The characters experience and pursue different paths that challenge the traditional notions of success based solely on wealth or education, suggesting that fulfillment can be found in personal relationships, passions, and individual choices.
In conclusion, "The First Seven Years" ultimately points toward the idea that success is subjective and can vary greatly from one individual to another, supporting the notion that "there is more than one way to measure success."