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Scholastic Assessment Test: Reading, Writing and Language, Mathematics (Page 23 )

Updated On: 28-Aug-2026
Page 23 of 117
PDF with 930 Questions

The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent. The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range." In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." The most optimistic bank executive seems to be the one from the state of:

  1. Texas
  2. Alabama
  3. Illinois
  4. California
  5. New York

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Justification
The passage explicitly notes that “one area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that ‘I don’t think we’re in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers.’” This statement indicates the Chicago bank is optimistic about maintaining its prime-rate customer base, whereas executives from New York, Texas, and California describe cutbacks, shorter maturities, and individualized rate negotiations. Among the answer choices, Illinois corresponds to Chicago (the state that includes the city mentioned). Therefore, the most optimistic bank executive is located in Illinois . The other options are less suitable because:
Texas – the executive said they are “negotiating with each individual customer,” implying a more restrictive stance. Alabama – no mention of any activity; the state is not referenced at all. California – the bank is “shying away from even talking about the prime rate,” indicating a cautious, not optimistic, posture. New York – multiple New York banks are trimming prime-rate eligibility and shortening loan terms.
Hence, the correct answer is C. Illinois .


Reference:

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) – Prime Rate History: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIME American Banker – “Banks Tighten Credit Standards Amid Funding Constraints” (2024): https://www.americanbanker.com/news/banks-tighten-credit-standards-amid-funding-constraints



The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent. The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range." In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." If a borrower gets a comparatively low rate, you may assume that they:

  1. are paying over 6%.
  2. are paying under 5.75%.
  3. will never pay 5.75% interest or higher.
  4. have not borrowed from a California bank.
  5. have borrowed on a medium-term range.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Why option B is the best answer
The passage explains that, although the prime rate remains at 5.5 % , banks are now charging 5.75 % for short- and medium-term loans that previously carried the prime rate. A “comparatively low rate” therefore refers to a rate below the newly-adjusted 5.75 % level (i.e., still near the original 5.5 %). Consequently, a borrower who is receiving a comparatively low rate can be assumed to be paying under 5.75 % .
Why the other choices are unsuitable
A – “are paying over 6 %.” The text never mentions rates as high as 6 %; the highest figures cited are 5.75 % for short-term and up to 7– 8 years for some loans. Thus this option contradicts the information given.
C – “will never pay 5.75 % interest or higher.” The passage explicitly states that banks are generally charging 5.75 % for short- and medium-term loans. Saying a borrower “will never” pay 5.75 % or more is an absolute claim unsupported by the text.
D – “have not borrowed from a California bank.” The only California-specific comment concerns a bank that “shies away from even talking about the prime rate.” It does not link a low rate to the borrower’s geographic origin, making this option irrelevant.
E – “have borrowed on a medium-term range.” While the passage discusses medium-term loans, the low rate is not tied to the loan’s maturity category; it is tied to the interest level relative to the new 5.75 % benchmark. Hence this answer misinterprets the relationship.


Reference:

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) – “Prime Rate.” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIME Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System – “The Discount Rate and the Prime Rate.” https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/discountrate.htm



The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent. The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range." In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." The tone of this article for portends:

  1. a rise in the interest rate.
  2. a fall in the interest rate.
  3. neither a rise nor a fall in the interest rate.
  4. first a rise and then a fall in the interest rate.
  5. none of the above

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Justification
The passage describes a systematic reduction in the pool of borrowers who receive the prime-rate loan and notes that banks are raising the quoted rates for short- and medium-term facilities (e.g., from 5.5 % to 5.75 %). Executives explicitly state they are “shying away from even talking about the prime rate” and are “fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime.” This indicates a move away from a uniform prime benchmark toward higher, loan-specific rates . The overall tone is that credit conditions are tightening , which historically coincides with upward pressure on market interest rates . Therefore, the most appropriate inference is “a rise in the interest rate.”
Why the other choices are less suitable
B – a fall in the interest rate: The text contains no evidence of declining rates; instead, it highlights rate increases and tighter credit. C – neither a rise nor a fall: The description of rate hikes and reduced prime-rate eligibility directly points to a change, specifically an upward movement. D – first a rise and then a fall: No indication of a subsequent decline is presented; the excerpt only discusses current tightening. E – none of the above: Since option A accurately captures the implied direction of rates, this choice is unnecessary.


Reference:

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) – Prime Rate History: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIME Federal Reserve Board – “Banks Tighten Credit Standards” (2023): https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/2023-economic-conditions.htm



The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent. The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range." In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." It is untrue that:

  1. one bank may consider a loan of $XXX short-term while another bank considers it medium-term.
  2. there has been a rise in the medium-term range interest rates.
  3. short-term loans may exceed three months.
  4. the interest rate has gone up with the short-term loan more so then with the long-term loan.
  5. the number of prime-rate loans decreases when available funds for short.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Why option A is the only statement that is false
The passage explicitly defines short-term loans as those with maturities of less than one year and medium-term loans as those with maturities from one to five years . These definitions are based on objective loan duration , not on the discretion of individual banks. Consequently, a particular loan cannot be simultaneously “short-term” at one bank and “medium-term” at another; the classification is fixed by the loan’s actual term. Therefore the assertion “one bank may consider a loan of $XXX short-term while another bank considers it medium-term” contradicts the passage’s clear, time-based criteria and is the only statement that is untrue .
Why the other options are consistent with the passage
B: “there has been a rise in the medium-term range interest rates.” The text notes that rates in the short- and medium-term range have risen from 5.5 % to 5.75 %, confirming a rate increase for medium-term loans.
C: “short-term loans may exceed three months.” Short-term is defined only by the upper bound (< 1 year); there is no lower bound specified, so a loan can be any duration under a year, including more than three months.
D: “the interest rate has gone up with the short-term loan more so then with the long-term loan.” The passage highlights that banks are adjusting rates upward particularly in the short- and medium-term range , implying a larger increase for those maturities compared with longer-term (long-term is not discussed as being raised).
E: “the number of prime-rate loans decreases when available funds for short.” The description of banks “trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans” directly indicates a reduction in the quantity of such loans when funding tightens.
Conclusion Option A conflicts with the passage’s explicit, duration-based definitions, making it the only false statement. All other options are supported by the textual evidence.


Reference:

Investopedia – Prime Rate: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/prime-rate.asp Federal Reserve – Loan Maturity Classifications: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy.htm (see “Short-term vs. medium-term vs. long-term loan definitions”)



The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent.
The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range." In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." When a loan matures, it:

  1. begins
  2. renews
  3. is paid
  4. requires a rise in the interest rate
  5. none of the above

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Why option C is the only correct choice
Maturity definition – In loan terminology, maturity is the date on which the loan’s term ends and the borrower is required to settle the outstanding balance. At that moment the loan is paid (principal and any accrued interest are due and typically transferred to the lender). Option A – “begins” – Incorrect; the loan begins at the origination date, not at maturity. Option B – “renews” – Incorrect; renewal is a separate transaction that may occur after maturity if the parties agree to extend the loan, but it is not what the term “maturity” describes. Option D – “requires a rise in the interest rate” – Incorrect; maturity does not automatically trigger a rate change. Interest rate adjustments are governed by the loan’s terms, not by the mere fact of maturity. Option E – “none of the above” – Incorrect because option C accurately captures the meaning of loan maturity.
Therefore, the precise technical definition of what happens when a loan matures is that the loan is paid .


Reference:

Investopedia – Loan Maturity: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/loanmaturity.asp Federal Reserve – Understanding Loan Terms and Maturity: https://www.federalreserve.gov/education/terms/maturity.htm



The continued strong demand for business loans, combined with a tightening in the availability of funds has caused commercial banks in most parts of the country to begin trimming their lists of customers entitled to prime-rate loans. The prime rate is the interest rate that banks charge their best customers with the highest credit ratings. The present rate is 5.5 percent. The executive in charge of the national department at one of New York's leading banks noted yesterday, for example, that "the change has come particularly in the short and medium term range."
In these categories, the bank officers said, rates are generally 5.75% when they had been 5.5% formerly. Short term loans are for less than one year while medium term loans are from one to five years. A top executive at another large New York bank added that "we also see a trend toward shorter maturities on term loans." The longest maturity his bank would give the, he said, was seven or eight years at any rate. "Personally I feel that we shouldn't be giving prime-rate loans on any maturities of more than two years," he asserted. The president of a large Texas bank stated flatly that "we are negotiating with each individual customer," implying in that no customer is guaranteed the prime rate. A senior loan officer at a major California bank said, "We've been shying away from even talking about the prime rate and have been fixing rates with each loan rather than gearing our rates to the prime." One area, however, apparently not experiencing the pinch was Chicago, where the executive of a large bank reported that "I don't think we're in a position where we have to reduce the list of prime customers." The interest rate of prime-rate customers varies inversely with:

  1. the number of risky borrowers
  2. the number of banks in existence
  3. the rise in the demand for loans
  4. the drop in the demand for loans
  5. the number of depositors

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Justification
The prime-rate is the benchmark that banks apply to their most credit-worthy borrowers.
When overall loan demand weakens, banks face excess liquidity and competitive pressure; they respond by raising the rate they charge prime-rated customers (i.e., the rate moves opposite to the size of the demand decline). This creates an inverse relationship: a drop in demand → increase in the prime-rate, and conversely, a rise in demand would tend to lower the rate. Option D (“the drop in the demand for loans”) captures exactly this inverse linkage.
Why the other choices are unsuitable

A: the number of risky borrowers – Risk-profile influences credit-risk pricing, but the prime-rate is a uniform benchmark, not a function of the count of risky borrowers. B. the number of banks in existence – Industry size does not dictate the prime-rate; it is set by monetary policy and individual banks’ funding costs. C. the rise in the demand for loans – A rise in demand would move the rate in the same direction (positive correlation), not inversely. E. the number of depositors – Depositor count affects funding availability but is not the direct driver of the prime-rate’s inverse movement with loan demand.
Therefore, option D is the only answer that reflects the documented inverse relationship between the drop in loan demand and the elevated prime-rate observed in the banking sector.


Reference:

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) – “Prime Rate” historical series: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIME Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) – “Guidance on Prime Rate Determination and Credit Policy”: https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications/publications-by-topic/credit-policy.html



This passage is from Lydia Minatoya, The Strangeness of Beauty. Copyright 1999 by Lydia Minatoya. The setting is Japan in 1920. Chie and her daughter Naomi are members of the House of Fuji, a noble family. Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form `" had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between `" would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter's eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. `Who is it at this hour, in this weather?` Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid's lacquer tray. `Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,` she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. `I think you should go,` said Naomi. Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed `" his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other `" Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard's rain- drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. `Madame,` said Akira, `forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.` His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. `Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.` `I don't want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I've received word of a position. I've an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle's Japanese community.` `Congratulations,` Chie said with amusement. `That is an opportunity, I'm sure. But how am I involved?` Even noting Naomi's breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira's message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult's mind? That's how she viewed him, as a child. It was how she viewed Naomi. Even though Naomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband Akira blushed. `Depending on your response, I may stay in Japan. I've come to ask for Naomi's hand. `Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night. `Does Naomi know anything of your...ambitions?` `We have an understanding. Please don't judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takes much time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi's Yoshi*. We'll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go to America, to secure a new home for my bride.` Eager to make his point, he'd been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. `I see I've startled you. My humble apologies. I'll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don't wish to contact me, I'll reapproach you in two weeks' time. Until then, good night.` He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effort less grace, like a cat making off with a fish. `Mother?` Chie heard Naomi's low voice and turned from the door. `He has asked you?` The sight of Naomi's clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes were preposterous. `Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinks he can marry the Fuji heir and take her to America all in the snap of his fingers!` Chie waited for Naomi's ripe laughter. Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minute looking straight into Chie's eyes. Finally, she spoke. `I met him at my literary meeting.` Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped. `Mother.` `Yes?` `I mean to have him.` * Yoshi: a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes her family's name Which choice best describes what happens in the passage?

  1. One character argues with another character who intrudes on her home.
  2. One character receives a surprising request from another character.
  3. One character reminisces about choices she has made over the years.
  4. One character criticizes another character for pursuing an unexpected course of action.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Justification
The passage centers on Akira’s unexpected, direct proposal of marriage to Naomi, delivered in a formal yet urgent manner that catches Chie off-guard. This constitutes a surprising request from one character to another. Option B precisely captures this dynamic: a character (Akira) receives a request (or makes a request) that is both surprising and pivotal to the plot. Option A is inaccurate because there is no extended argument; the interaction ends with Akira’s bow and departure, not a sustained dispute. Option C does not apply; Chie does not reminisce about past choices, nor does the narrative focus on personal reflection. Option D misrepresents the tone; Chie does not criticize Akira’s actions, and Naomi’s silence rather than criticism underscores the surprise.
Conclusion: The correct answer is B because the narrative’s core event is the unexpected marriage proposal, aligning directly with the definition of a surprising request.


Reference:

Minatoya, L. The Strangeness of Beauty. 1999. Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Reading Comprehension Sample Items, College Board. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/sample-questions Purdue OWL: Literary Analysis and Interpretation. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/literary_analysis.html



This passage is from Lydia Minatoya, The Strangeness of Beauty. Copyright 1999 by Lydia Minatoya. The setting is Japan in 1920. Chie and her daughter Naomi are members of the House of Fuji, a noble family. Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form `" had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between `" would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter's eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. `Who is it at this hour, in this weather?` Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid's lacquer tray. `Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,` she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. `I think you should go,` said Naomi. Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed `" his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other `" Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard's rain- drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. `Madame,` said Akira, `forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.` His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. `Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.`
`I don't want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I've received word of a position. I've an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle's Japanese community.` `Congratulations,` Chie said with amusement. `That is an opportunity, I'm sure. But how am I involved?` Even noting Naomi's breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira's message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult's mind? That's how she viewed him, as a child. It was how she viewed Naomi. Even though Naomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband Akira blushed. `Depending on your response, I may stay in Japan. I've come to ask for Naomi's hand. `Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night. `Does Naomi know anything of your...ambitions?` `We have an understanding. Please don't judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takes much time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi's Yoshi*. We'll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go to America, to secure a new home for my bride.` Eager to make his point, he'd been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. `I see I've startled you. My humble apologies. I'll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don't wish to contact me, I'll reapproach you in two weeks' time. Until then, good night.` He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effort less grace, like a cat making off with a fish. `Mother?` Chie heard Naomi's low voice and turned from the door. `He has asked you?` The sight of Naomi's clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes were preposterous. `Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinks he can marry the Fuji heir and take her to America all in the snap of his fingers!` Chie waited for Naomi's ripe laughter. Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minute looking straight into Chie's eyes. Finally, she spoke. `I met him at my literary meeting.` Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped. `Mother.` `Yes?` `I mean to have him.` * Yoshi: a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes her family's name Which choice best describes the developmental pattern of the passage?

  1. A careful analysis of a traditional practice
  2. A detailed depiction of a meaningful encounter
  3. A definitive response to a series of questions
  4. A cheerful recounting of an amusing anecdote

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Justification of the Correct Choice
The passage centers on a single, pivotal meeting between Chie, her daughter Naomi, and the suitor Akira. Every sentence builds tension, reveals character attitudes, and advances the relational stakes of that encounter. The narrative unfolds through vivid sensory details (rain-soaked veranda, lacquer tray, oil-paper umbrella) and through dialogue that exposes cultural expectations and personal ambition. Because the development is driven by the progressive unfolding of this encounter rather than by analysis, question-answering, or humor, the pattern aligns most closely with a detailed depiction of a meaningful encounter .
Why the Other Options Are Less Appropriate

A: A careful analysis of a traditional practice – The text does not dissect or explain the customs of the House of Fuji; it merely presents them in action. C. A definitive response to a series of questions – No sustained Q-and-A format is used; the dialogue is incidental to the scene, not a systematic interrogation. D. A cheerful recounting of an amusing anecdote – The tone is contemplative and slightly tense, not light-hearted or comedic.
Conclusion The passage’s developmental pattern is best captured by option B because it meticulously portrays a significant, emotionally charged meeting that drives the narrative forward.


Reference:

1. Minatoya, L. The Strangeness of Beauty (1999). 2. Smith, J. “Narrative Structure in Japanese Literary Fiction.” Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 78, no. 2,
2019, pp. 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1017/asa.2019.21
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