SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
In Celeste Varnum's 1911 novel The Second Summer, the narrator suggests that Isobel's confidence in her own judgment is often misplaced, as when the narrator notes that Isobel ______
Which quotation from The Second Summer most effectively illustrates the claim?
"was certain the new tenant was a gentleman of good family, and was certain of it still on the morning he left without paying his rent."
"spoke so quickly, whenever she was excited about anything, that her sisters could rarely follow more than half of what she said to them."
"had read every novel in the circulating library by the age of sixteen and could recite whole pages of her favorites."
"disliked being contradicted by anyone and would leave the room at once rather than stay and argue the point."
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The claim needs both confidence and a judgment that turns out wrong. In choice A Isobel is "certain" the tenant is a gentleman and stays certain even after he skips out on the rent, so her confidence is shown to be misplaced.
Choice D suggests Isobel is sure of herself, but it gives no case where her judgment proves wrong.
Why the other choices are wrong
- B. This shows that Isobel talks quickly, not that she trusts her judgment when she shouldn't.
- C. This shows Isobel's love of reading but says nothing about her judgment being wrong.
- D. This suggests Isobel is sure of herself, but it gives no example of her judgment proving mistaken.
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