Question

My life was without past or future; death, the pessimist would say, "a consummation devoutly to be wished.” But a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. Night fled before the day of thought, and love and joy and hope came up in a passion of obedience to knowledge.

How does Keller use evidence to address the underlined counterclaim?

She suggests a hypothetical situation to illustrate how dark life would be without the benefit of optimism.
She uses an example from her own life to illustrate why she is able to be optimistic despite her circumstances.
She explains the facts of her physical limitations to shed light on the importance of considering pessimism.
She cites a quotation from an expert to lend credibility to the idea that pessimism sometimes has its merits.

Answer 1

She uses an example from her own life to illustrate why she is able to be optimistic despite her circumstances.

Rationale: Keller responds to the pessimist's claim by describing a personal moment — “a little word from the fingers of another” — that transformed her outlook and brought love, joy, and hope, thereby refuting the pessimistic view through her own experience.