Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end.
The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.
Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of an exemplum according to the passage?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
To illustrate a broader moral or thematic point in discourse
Explanation
The passage begins by defining an exemplum as a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It explains that exempla were commonly used in religious sermons and later in nonreligious discourse to teach lessons or strengthen arguments. Therefore, Option 1 correctly states the primary purpose of an exemplum.
The other options are incorrect. Option 2 suggests replacing logical argument with emotion, which the passage does not mention. Option 3 limits the purpose to entertainment, whereas the passage emphasizes moral instruction. Option 4 refers to providing historical evidence for research, which is unrelated to the function of an exemplum.
Key Points
When answering reading comprehension questions, identify the main definition or central idea given at the beginning of the passage. Here, the first sentence directly defines the purpose of an “exemplum,” making it the key to the correct answer.