Question 4 of 10 2 Points
Which excerpt from Nikolai Gogol's "The Nose" best helps to establish the
straightforward and matter-of-fact tone of the text?
A. "That is a lie! You won't get out of it like that. Confess the truth."
B. On the 25th March, 18-, a very strange occurrence took place in
St Petersburg.
C. "You vagabond! You good-for-nothing! Am I to undertake all
responsibility for you at the police office?"
D. "Whose nose have you cut off, you monster?" she screamed, her
face red with anger.
SUBMIT

B On the 25th March, 18-, a very strange occurrence took place in

St Petersburg.

Explanation:

If the question is about 'establishing a straightforward and matter-of-fact tone of the text' then you need to look for an answer that is...straightforward and matter-of-fact lol! I had to read this for school too, not long ago. If you read these options, the only one I'd consider matter-of-fact is B. It describes what was happening, where, and when. The others are all quotes from characters that in my opinion don't really fit to establish a straightforward tone of the text.

boccaccio employs the voice of his narrator dioneo to represent his ideas on the tension between masculinity and femininity.  while dioneo excites the members of the brigata and recognizes women for their unique skills and independent ideas, he concludes the decameron with a story reminiscent of the society from which these young aristocrats escaped, revealing misogynistic overtones.  dioneo boccaccio is able to explore the gender disparity which is inherent in 14th century florentine society.