20
Select the correct text in the passage.
Which five sections in this excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde show that Lady Bracknell places utmost importance on weal
and appearances?
LADY BRACKNELL (Sitting down again.): A moment, Mr. Worthing. A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to
me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her. Few girls of the present day have any really solid qualities, any of the qualities that last, and
improve with time. We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces. (To Cecily.) Come over here, dear. (Cecily goes across.) Pretty child! your dress is
sadly simple, and your hair seems almost as Nature might have left it. But we can soon alter all that. A thoroughly experienced French maid produces =
really marvellous result in a very brief space of time. I remember recommending one to young Lady Lancing, and after three months her own husband
did not know her.
JACK: And after six months nobody knew her.
LADY BRACKNELL. (Glares at Jack for a few moments. Then bends, with a practised smile, to Cecily.): Kindly turn round, sweet child. (Cecily turns
completely round.) No, the side view is what I want. (Cecily presents her profile.) Yes, quite as I expected. There are distinct social possibilities in your
profile. The two weak points in our age are its want of principle and its want of profile. The chin a little higher, dear. Style largely depends on the way
the chin is worn. They are worn very high, just at present. Algernon!



Answer :

In the excerpt from "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, Lady Bracknell places utmost importance on wealth and appearances in the following five sections: 1. Lady Bracknell emphasizes the significance of wealth by reacting dramatically to the revelation of Miss Cardew's substantial inheritance of a hundred and thirty thousand pounds in the Funds. 2. She criticizes the lack of enduring qualities in modern girls, highlighting her belief in the importance of lasting qualities over superficial ones. 3. Lady Bracknell comments on Cecily's simple dress and natural hair, indicating her focus on external appearances and the need for enhancement to conform to societal standards. 4. She mentions the transformative power of a French maid in altering one's appearance rapidly, showcasing her emphasis on quick fixes and the importance of presentation. 5. Lady Bracknell instructs Cecily on how to improve her profile, showing her preoccupation with physical attributes and the significance of having a desirable appearance in society.