Question

What are the characteristics of good prose? Choose the most appropriate answer
(A). Use of bombastic words.
(B). Matching the requirements of the targeted readership.
(C). Ease of expression.
(D). Economy of words.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• C. (A), (B), (C) and (D).
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

When a question asks for characteristics, create a checklist as you read. Mark what the passage praises as "good" and what it criticizes as "bad." This makes it easy to select the correct combination from the options.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Question Understanding:
The task is to identify the qualities of good prose as defined in the provided text.

Step 2: Passage Analysis:
Evaluate each option:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) Bombastic language: The passage criticizes this, stating it hinders making an impression. Thus, (A) is poor prose. } \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Reader-Targeting: The passage highlights its importance for journalists ("guided by the requirements of the public") and literary writers ("has a special audience in mind"). This defines effective prose. } \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Expressive Ease: The passage directly states it as a positive: "Ease of expression is another criterion in this matter." } \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Word Economy: The passage praises it, noting "economical sentences, without any sense of wasted effort" and a general "sense of economy." } \\ \end{array}\]Therefore, good prose characteristics are (B), (C), and (D).

Step 3: Conclusion:
Option (D) is correct, as it exclusively contains (B), (C), and (D).