单选题 It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about the role of criticism?

(A) Its prime office should be to make our enjoyment of the things that feed the mind as conscious as possible.
(B) It should be a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.
(C) It should enable us to go beyond personal prejudice to appreciate the virtues of works antipathetic to our own tastes.
(D) It should dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, ignoring such deficiencies as irrelevant.
(E) It should strive both to purify literature and to elevate the literary standards of the reading public.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】The author wishes us to be able to recognize the good qualities of Meredith's work while at the same time we continue to find it person-ally unsympathetic. Thus, she would agree that criticism should enable us to appreciate the virtues of works we dislike.
Choices A, B, and E are unsupported by the passage.
Choice D is incorrect. While the author wishes the reader to be aware of Meredith's excellences, she does not suggest that the reader should ignore those qualities in Meredith that make his work unsympathetic. Rather, she wishes the reader to come to appreciate the very ambivalence of his critical response.