how does wilde use irony to critique the upper class in the play

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Reading Practice Test

1. How does Wilde use irony to critique the upper class in the play?

A. By portraying the upper class as sincere and honorable.
B. By showing that the upper class is deeply concerned with morality.
C. By exaggerating the trivial concerns and behaviors of the upper class.
D. By highlighting the noble and upright nature of the upper class.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Wilde uses irony by exaggerating the trivial concerns and behaviors of the upper class, revealing their lack of genuine depth and morality. In 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' Wilde satirizes the British aristocracy by highlighting their absurdities and trivialities. The play's characters, like Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, lead double lives, symbolizing the dual nature of their social status. Through witty dialogue, puns, and irony, Wilde exposes the superficiality and hypocrisy of the upper classes. The term 'Bunburying' coined by Wilde exemplifies the characters' deceitful actions to avoid social responsibilities. Additionally, the play ridicules the concept of marriage, portraying it as a societal transaction rather than a romantic bond. For instance, Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack about his eligibility as a suitor for Gwendolen underscores the materialistic view of marriage prevalent in the society Wilde critiques. Wilde's humorous yet critical portrayal of the aristocracy in 'The Importance of Being Earnest' makes it a timeless and cherished work.

2. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Studying a foreign language will help graduating students find jobs after high school.
B. Studying a foreign language should be a mandatory requirement for high school graduation.
C. Studying a foreign language helps students gain an understanding of other cultures.
D. Studying a foreign language is essential if a student hopes to get into college.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The main idea of the passage is that studying a foreign language should be a compulsory requirement for high school graduation. This is emphasized due to its increasing importance for the global economy, college acceptance rates, and job market competitiveness. The passage argues for states to amend their requirements to reflect this necessity, highlighting the benefits of studying a foreign language. Choice A is incorrect because while the passage mentions job market competitiveness, the main focus is on the requirement for high school graduation. Choice C is incorrect as while understanding other cultures is a benefit of studying a foreign language, it is not the primary message of the passage. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not solely focus on the necessity of studying a foreign language for college acceptance; rather, it advocates for its inclusion as a high school graduation requirement.

3. Which literary device is most prominent in Wilde's play?

A. Irony
B. Symbolism
C. Metaphor
D. Allusion

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Irony.' Irony is the most prominent literary device in Wilde's play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' as it pervades his critique of the upper class. Throughout the play, Wilde uses irony to highlight the absurdities and trivialities of the British aristocracy. The characters engage in witty and humorous dialogue filled with situational irony, verbal irony, and dramatic irony, exposing the superficiality and hypocrisy of the upper classes. Symbolism, metaphor, and allusion are present in the play but to a lesser extent compared to irony. While symbolism and metaphor are used to enhance the themes and characterizations, allusion is sparingly employed. However, it is the pervasive use of irony that sets the tone and drives Wilde's satire of the societal norms and values of the time.

4. Which of the following sentences distracts the reader from the main focus of the passage?

A. Malory's work, which is believed to be largely a translation of older French stories, was written in prose style.
B. Instead of embracing the romance angle, however, Malory focused more on the moral elements within these stories.
C. In Tennyson's work, Arthur chooses to forgive Guinevere, and she chooses to spend the rest of her days doing good works in a convent.
D. Charles Dickens is remembered for doing the same thing in his novels about the abuses of lower-class children in Victorian England.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The focus of the passage is on Malory and Tennyson and their interpretations of the Arthurian legends. The mention of Charles Dickens in choice D is irrelevant and distracts the reader from the main discussion. While the other choices discuss Malory's prose style, his focus on moral elements, and Tennyson's approach to the Arthurian stories, choice D brings in a comparison to Charles Dickens and his novels about lower-class children in Victorian England. This mention of Dickens does not directly relate to the main theme of the passage, making it the correct answer as the distracting sentence.

5. According to the table above, how many more shirts were ordered in size medium than size small in the month of January?

A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The corrected question asks how many more shirts were ordered in size medium than in size small in January. The table shows that two more shirts were ordered in size medium than in size small. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Two.' Choice A, 'One,' is incorrect as the comparison is between medium and small, not medium and large. Choices C and D, 'Three' and 'Four,' are incorrect as the actual difference is two as per the data provided in the table.