Mr.

Gendy SATship
How to Read Literary
Passages (Fiction) Part II
BY MR. MOHAMED AL-GENDY
 4. The Relationship between the
Characters
 A. How they interact and talk to each other
"What shall we do? The gentlemen and ladies at this table look as if they wondered why we
came here—we seem forcing ourselves into their party."
"Aye, so we do. That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large acquaintance here.“
Which statement best characterizes the relationship between Mrs. Allen and
Catherine?
A) Catherine is irritated by Mrs. Allen but defers to her in conversation
B) Catherine is amused by Mrs. Allen but is frustrated by her lack of social connections
C) Catherine is impressed by Mrs. Allen and is interested in her social contacts
D) Catherine is angered by Mrs. Allen and believes her social tactics are ineffective
Mr. Gendy SATship
 B. How they think about each other
Ex. I looked up at Tamara, but I could see that she
didn’t care, not really.
“It’s just a pile of wood,” she said when she saw how
I looked at her. But I wanted to tell her to shut up.
This was haunted ground.
4. The  The interactions between the narrator and
Tamara suggest which main difference in
Relationship their personalities?
between the A) Tamara values learning about the past while the
Characters narrator is only interested in her present situation.
B) Tamara prefers to spend time indoors while the
narrator prefers to spend time outside.
C) Tamara is eager to take risks while the narrator
prefers activities that are safe.
D) Tamara is indifferent to her surroundings while
the narrator views her surroundings with awe.
Mr. Gendy SATship
 4. The Relationship between the
Characters
B. How they think about each other
 Ex. There was nothing new about Lily Bart, yet Selden could never see her without a
faint movement of interest: it was characteristic of her that she always roused
speculation, that her simplest acts seemed the result of far-reaching intentions.
In the passage, Lily is characterized as someone who is
A) intriguing and deliberate.
B) irritable and anxious.
C) surprising and irreverent.
D) secretive and moody.
Mr. Gendy SATship
 5. The Repeated Ideas

Ex. With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee, Mrs. Allen
made her way through the throng of men by the door, as swiftly as the necessary caution would
allow.

Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having preserved her gown from
injury. "It would have been very shocking to have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a delicate
muslin. For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room, I assure you.“

“There goes a strange-looking woman! What an odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is!
Look at the back.“
“How is my head, my dear? Somebody gave me a push
that has hurt it, I am afraid."
Mr. Gendy SATship
 Ex. It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first
time that evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to
dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room.
“How uncomfortable it is," whispered Catherine, "not to
have a single acquaintance here!"
"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity,
"it is very uncomfortable indeed.
“That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large
5. The acquaintance here."
Repeated "I wish we had any—it would be somebody to go to.“

Ideas "Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would

join them directly. The Skinners were here last year—I
wish they were here now.“
“ II think you must know somebody."
"I don't, upon my word—I wish I did. I wish I had a
large acquaintance here with all my heart, and then I
should get you a partner. I should be so glad to have
you dance.”
Mr. Gendy SATship
 5. The Repeated Ideas

"I wish she had been able to dance," said his wife; "I wish we could have got a
partner for her. I have been saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here
this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had come, as they talked of once, she
might have danced with George Parry. I am so sorry she has not had a partner!“

Mrs. Allen’s response in lines 53-55 (“I ... dance”) mainly serves to
A) show how shunned they are in the midst of the ball.
B) highlight her attempts to expand her social circle.
C) emphasize the goal of finding Catherine a partner.
D) demonstrate their inability to mingle with new acquaintances.
Mr. Gendy SATship