ACT (Enhanced)ReadingMedium
A historian is analyzing a historical document from the 18th century. The document is a personal letter written by a merchant to his family, detailing his business ventures and daily life. The historian notes that the merchant frequently uses phrases like 'by God's grace,' 'divine providence,' and 'if the Lord wills it' when discussing his plans and successes. What can the historian most reasonably infer about the merchant's worldview based on these linguistic choices?
- AHe believed that economic success was largely determined by fate rather than effort.
- BHe was primarily concerned with accumulating wealth and material possessions.
- CHe was trying to impress his family with his piety and humility.
- DHe held strong religious convictions that influenced his perception of events.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. He held strong religious convictions that influenced his perception of events.
The repeated use of phrases invoking God and divine will ('by God's grace,' 'divine providence,' 'if the Lord wills it') strongly suggests that the merchant attributed his fortunes and future to a higher power, indicating deep religious convictions that shaped his worldview.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The phrases suggest divine influence, which is related to but distinct from simple 'fate.' They imply active religious belief, not necessarily a passive view of effort.
- B. While he was a merchant, the phrases provided do not directly indicate a primary concern with wealth accumulation; they speak to his interpretation of events.
- C. While possible, there is no direct evidence in the given phrases to suggest he was *trying to impress* his family. The phrases are more indicative of his genuine belief system.
Inference from Word Choice
Drawing a conclusion about an author's or character's beliefs, values, or attitudes based on specific words, phrases, or stylistic elements used in the text.
- Requires careful analysis of specific linguistic patterns.
- Distinguishes direct statements from implied meanings.
- Considers the cumulative effect of multiple instances of a word or phrase.
Memory trick: Words are windows to the soul; read between the lines to see their role.