GED Language Arts (RLA) : Assumptions
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Example Question #11 : Main Idea
"Ah, yes," continued Caderousse, "and capital offers, too; but you know, you will be captain, and who could refuse you then?"
"Meaning to say," replied Dantes, with a smile which but ill-concealed his trouble, "that if I were not a captain"—
"Eh—eh!" said Caderousse, shaking his head.
"Come, come," said the sailor, "I have a better opinion than you of women in general, and of Mercedes in particular; and I am certain that, captain or not, she will remain ever faithful to me."
"So much the better—so much the better," said Caderousse. "When one is going to be married, there is nothing like implicit confidence; but never mind that, my boy,—go and announce your arrival, and let her know all your hopes and prospects."
"I will go directly," was Edmond's reply; and, embracing his father, and nodding to Caderousse, he left the apartment.
Caderousse lingered for a moment, then taking leave of old Dantes, he went downstairs to rejoin Danglars, who awaited him at the corner of the Rue Senac.
"Well," said Danglars, "did you see him?"
"I have just left him," answered Caderousse.
"Did he allude to his hope of being captain?"
"He spoke of it as a thing already decided."
"Indeed!" said Danglars, "he is in too much hurry, it appears to me."
"Why, it seems M. Morrel has promised him the thing."
"So that he is quite elated about it?"
"Why, yes, he is actually insolent over the matter—has already offered me his patronage, as if he were a grand personage, and proffered me a loan of money, as though he were a banker."
"Which you refused?"
"Most assuredly; although I might easily have accepted it, for it was I who put into his hands the first silver he ever earned; but now M. Dantes has no longer any occasion for assistance—he is about to become a captain."
"Pooh!" said Danglars, "he is not one yet."
"Ma foi, it will be as well if he is not," answered Caderousse; "for if he should be, there will be really no speaking to him."
"If we choose," replied Danglars, "he will remain what he is; and perhaps become even less than he is."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing—I was speaking to myself. And is he still in love with the Catalane?"
"Over head and ears; but, unless I am much mistaken, there will be a storm in that quarter.”
Dantes believes which of the following about Mercedes?
That Mercedes is fickle
That she’s only interested in him for the money
That she will still be interested in marrying him regardless of whether he’s captain
None of these
That she will still be interested in marrying him regardless of whether he’s captain
“That she will still be interested in marrying him” is the correct answer. This was a relatively simple question that required you to compare and contrast the viewpoints of Dantes and Cadarousse. It is relatively clear from the passage that Cadarousse believes (or at least gives the impression that he believes) that Mercedes will only be interested in Dantes if he is made captain. Dantes, on the other hand, disagrees with that notion, and says that he is “certain, captain or not, Mercedes will remain ever faithful.”
Passage adapted from Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo (1844)
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