Disraeli was as sparkling a letter－writer as he was a novelist. His letters show that

Disraeli was as sparkling a letter-writer as he was a novelist. His letters show that his capacity to observed was matched only by his ability to describe, and they are excited by his over-developed sense of self-dramatization as well as by his enduring sense of the greatness of his own destiny. He skims through these pages like some gorgeous bird of paradise, spreading his multi-colored feathers and never pausing long enough to become boring.

As early as 1830, when only 26, he is found advising Benjamin Austin to carefully conserve his letters for posterity. Fortunately Austin and others followed his advicA. As a result over 10,000 letters in his own hand have survived, quite apart from dictated letters and other notes and documents. Disraeli rarely kept a diary, and poured his thoughts, desires and reflections into his correspondencA.

What treasures there lie in store! We leave him 1837 with his longed-for election to Parliament, but ahead come into view the high peaks of his career with the twin mountains of his two premierships and his friendship with the Queen. Lord Esher maintained that the letters between Disraeli and Queen Victoria had largely been destroyed, but this was not so. A new, bright and searching light will eventually shine on that extraordinary political and romantic friendship.

41. This passage appears to be written by _______.

A a friend of Disraeli's

B a contemporary of Disraeli's

C a literary critic

D an autobiographer

42. ...his capacity to observe was matched only by his ability to describa... means

A he was as accomplished an observer as he was a descriptive writer

B his capacity to observe and his ability to describe were unrivalled

C he was capable of adapting descriptions to fit his observations

D his observations and descriptions reflected his own personal ambitions

43. During his lifetime Disraeli pursued the career of _______.

A a correspondent

B a politician

C a novelist

D a consultant

44. Even as a young man Disraeli realized that one day his letters would be _______.

A antiquated

B well-connected

C destroyed

D widely-read

45. Disraeli's two premierships and his friendship with the Queen are described as being _______. A obstacles to surmount

B unsurmountable obstacles

C pinnacles of success

D impossible challenges