Explanation for Question 42 From the Reading Section on the 2021 March Sat
Okay. Question number 42, the final one for this passage, 2 we're looking at line 41 and the meaning of at once. 3 So this line is describing the reactions that people have to the reformers. 4 Um, it says reformers are greeted at once with smiles and frowns blessing and 5 cursing with eulogy and abuse. So we say that each of these pairs that 6 follows this kind of a contrast smiles and frowns blessing and curse setting eulogy 7 and abuse. So this at once is kind of conveying that 8 smiles and frowns blessing and cursing, eulogy, 9 and abuse. All of these seemingly contradictory things are kind of happening at the 10 same time. In other words, they're happening simultaneously as in choice, 11 a simultaneously laughs and frowns eulogy and 12 abuse both occurring together. 13 Um, choice B initially would suggest that people's minds are changed. 14 There's really no evidence that they're kind of coming around really quickly after 15 that initial reaction see correspondingly, 16 um, doesn't make sense because it's not clear what this is corresponding to 17 necessarily perhaps the intensity of the message, 18 but that's not really the right fit here. And answer choice day decisively would 19 suggest they kind of never turn around or change their minds. 20 Um, and the passage goes on to describe how, 21 um, the reformers ultimately get to see how some people kind of come around 22 and recognize the truth. So answer choice a is, 23 is by far the best fit here at once means these two, 24 two contradictory sets of emotions are really taking place at the same time.