Question

In the last sentence of the passage, the author uses the parenthetical clause “though hope should always be deluded” primarily to

A. convince the audience that the pursuit of happiness is futile

B. assert that hope is important regardless of whether it comes to fruition

C. discourage the audience from indulging in unreasonable expectations

D. highlight the positive and negative aspects of hope

E. imply that the value of hope depends on its close connection with delusion

Answer 1

B

Step-by-step explanation:

assert that hope is important regardless of whether it comes to fruition

Answer 2

B. assert that hope is important regardless of whether it comes to fruition

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer B

Correct. In the last sentence of the passage, the author’s main claim is that it is “necessary to hope” because “hope itself is happiness.” He uses the parenthetical clause “though (even if) hope should always be deluded (frustrated)” to argue that even in the extreme case in which hopes never come to fruition, hope is nevertheless important—not only for its capacity to bring happiness, but because the disappointment that results from frustrated hope is “less dreadful than [hope’s] extinction.”