Questions: Question 11 of 15 Read the following excerpt from the last chapter of The Great Gatsby. Even when the East excited me most, even when I was most keenly aware of its superiority to the bored, sprawling, swollen towns beyond the Ohio, with their interminable inquisitions which spared only the children and the very old-even then it had always for me a quality of distortion. Which statement most accurately analyzes the aesthetic impact of the excerpt? A. By summing up the novel's theme of the emptiness of the American Dream, the author leaves the reader feeling Nick's sense of disappointment. B. By contrasting the East's liberalism with the Midwest's social conservatism, the author comments further on the theme of the shallowness of the wealthy. C. By reinforcing the objectivity that Nick had in the opening pages of the novel, the author leaves the reader feeling satisfied with the novel's conclusion. D. By showing Nick's detachment from the society of East Egg and West Egg, the author leaves the reader feeling hopeful that he will return home to Ohio.

The answer is A: By summing up the novel's theme of the emptiness of the American Dream, the author leaves the reader feeling Nick's sense of disappointment.

Explanation for each option:

A. By summing up the novel's theme of the emptiness of the American Dream, the author leaves the reader feeling Nick's sense of disappointment. - This option is correct because the excerpt reflects Nick's disillusionment with the East, which he initially found exciting but ultimately saw as distorted. This aligns with the novel's overarching theme of the hollowness of the American Dream, as Nick becomes disenchanted with the superficiality and moral decay he observes.

B. By contrasting the East's liberalism with the Midwest's social conservatism, the author comments further on the theme of the shallowness of the wealthy. - This option is incorrect because the excerpt does not explicitly contrast liberalism and conservatism. Instead, it focuses on Nick's perception of the East as distorted, which ties more directly to the theme of the American Dream's emptiness rather than a specific commentary on social values.

C. By reinforcing the objectivity that Nick had in the opening pages of the novel, the author leaves the reader feeling satisfied with the novel's conclusion. - This option is incorrect because the excerpt does not reinforce Nick's objectivity. Instead, it highlights his subjective disillusionment with the East, which contrasts with any initial objectivity he might have had.

D. By showing Nick's detachment from the society of East Egg and West Egg, the author leaves the reader feeling hopeful that he will return home to Ohio. - This option is incorrect because the excerpt does not convey a sense of hopefulness. Instead, it emphasizes Nick's disappointment and disillusionment, which does not suggest a hopeful return to Ohio.