A. “Macaulay was the practical man of affairs, helping and rejoicing in the progress of his beloved country.”
✅ Correct.
Thomas Babington Macaulay was a historian, politician, and essayist.
He is known for his practical involvement in British politics and colonial administration.
His style was vigorous and pragmatic, often celebrating British progress (especially in works like History of England).
This aligns with the statement calling him a "practical man of affairs" and patriotic in tone.
B. “Ruskin was like a Hebrew prophet just in from the desert, and the burden of his message was, ‘Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!’”
❌ Incorrect.
This is a metaphorical and poetic depiction of John Ruskin, but not literal or widely accepted as a precise critical description.
Ruskin did critique industrial society (like prophets), but this specific comparison to a Hebrew prophet is stylistic, not factual, and often used rhetorically, not analytically.
It sounds impressive but lacks the clarity and critical consensus of the others.
C. “Arnold was much like the cultivated Greek; his voice was soft, his speech suave, but he left the impression that you must be deficient in culture.”
✅ Correct.
Matthew Arnold emphasized culture and criticism in his writings (Culture and Anarchy).
His tone was refined and intellectual, often suggesting readers lacked cultural depth if they disagreed with him.
The Greek comparison reflects his ideal of Hellenism — balance, reason, and beauty.
D. “Newman was like the best French prose writers in expressing his thought with such naturalness and apparent ease that, without thinking of style, we received exactly the impression which he meant to convey.”
✅ Correct.
John Henry Newman was admired for his prose style: clear, natural, and rhetorically effective.
Critics have likened his writing to French prose for its lucidity and grace, which conveys meaning without drawing attention to itself.
This reflects his effectiveness as a theologian and essayist (e.g., The Idea of a University).
Conclusion:
Correct Statements: A (Macaulay), C (Arnold), D (Newman)
Incorrect Statement: B (Ruskin — metaphorical, not critically solid)
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