Read the following excerpt from walden by henry thoreau and then choose your answer.
most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. with respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor. the ancient philosophers, chinese, hindoo, persian, and greek, were a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches, none so rich in inward. we know not much about them. it is remarkable that we know so much of them as we do. the same is true of the more modern reformers and benefactors of their race. none can be an impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground of what we should call voluntary poverty. of a life of luxury the fruit is luxury, whether in agriculture, or commerce, or literature, or art. there are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live. to be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust.

which of the following best states the author's claim?
a) only through embracing luxury can humans reach the pinnacle of self-awareness.
b) mankind must strive to accumulate luxuries and comforts during the journey toward personal fulfillment.
c) the outcome of a life of luxury is most certainly personal growth and contentment.
d) beware the pursuit of luxury as it will surely barricade the path that leads to self-awareness.

Which detail belongs in paragraph 5 to support the main idea of the paragraph? a) places to receive acupuncture are increasingly easy to find all across the united states. b) not everyone is necessarily fond of acupuncture; some patients prefer other methods of physical therapy. c) even though acupuncture is a popular chinese treatment, it has grown popular around the world. d) most of the adverse effects of acupuncture that have been reported do not derive from the procedure itself but from improper application.

24.1.6 quiz: william faulkner aperle question 4 of 5 2 points what is cash building in as i lay dying? o a. a truck bed for jewel o b. a bin to pile cotton in o c. a kitchen table for his family o d. a box to bury addie in subm

Industrialization in europe changed the way people lived. the urban working class came into being, and with it came the drudgery of work. which two parts of this excerpt from franz kafka's the metamorphosis most closely reflect this impact of industrialization on people's lives? "what's happened to me? " he thought. it wasn't a dream. his room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. a collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table—samsa was a travelling salesman—and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. it showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. "how about if i sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense," he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn't get into that position. however hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was. he must have tried it a hundred times, shut his eyes so that he wouldn't have to look at the floundering legs, and only stopped when he began to feel a mild, dull pain there that he had never felt before. "oh, no", he thought, "what a strenuous career it is that i've chosen! travelling day in and day out. doing business like this takes much more effort than doing your own business at home, and on top of that there's the curse of travelling, worries about making train connections, bad and irregular food, contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or become friendly with them. they can all go away! " he felt a slight itch up on his belly; pushed himself slowly up on his back towards the headboard so that he could lift his head better; found where the itch was, and saw that it was covered with lots of little white spots which he didn't know what to make of; and when he tried to feel the place with one of his legs he drew it quickly back because as soon as he touched it he was overcome by a cold shudder. he slid back into his former position. "getting up early all the time", he thought, "it makes you stupid. you've got to get enough sleep. other travelling salesmen live a life of luxury. for instance, whenever i go back to the guest house during the morning to copy out the contract, these gentlemen are always still sitting there eating their breakfasts. i ought to just try that with my boss; i'd get kicked out on the spot. but who knows, maybe that would be the best thing for me. if i didn't have my parents to think about i'd have given in my notice a long time ago, i'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what i think, tell him everything i would, let him know just what i feel."