Question

“I have had a shock,” he said, “and I shall never recover. It is a question of weeks. Well, life has been pleasant; I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it. I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be more glad to get away.”

“Jekyll is ill, too,” observed Utterson. “Have you seen him?”

But Lanyon’s face changed, and he held up a trembling hand. “I wish to see or hear no more of Dr. Jekyll,” he said in a loud, unsteady voice. “I am quite done with that person; and I beg that you will spare me any allusion to one whom I regard as dead.”

–The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,
Robert Louis Stevenson

Which inference is best supported by the passage?

Dr. Lanyon expects to recover from his illness.
Dr. Lanyon has learned damaging new information about Dr. Jekyll.
Dr. Lanyon does not think that Mr. Utterson is a good friend.
Dr. Lanyon met Mr. Hyde and was shocked by his strange appearance.

Answer 1

Dr. Lanyon has learned damaging new information about Dr. Jekyll.

Reason: Lanyon says he has had a shock and asks Utterson to spare him any allusion to Jekyll, calling him “dead,” which implies he learned something disturbing about Jekyll. The other choices contradict the passage or aren’t supported.