Consider the following statements about the novels "The Corrections", "A Visit from the Goon Squad" and "Forty Thieves": A] The author of the novel "The Corrections" is Jonathan Franzen. B] The author of the novel "A Visit from the Goon Squad" is Edward P. Jones. C] The author of the novel "Forty Thieves" is Thomas Perry. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: A and C

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on matching three contemporary novels with their authors and again uses labelled statements instead of simple options. It tests your awareness of modern literary fiction, particularly books that are often discussed in prize circles or serious reading lists. Being able to correctly pair titles and authors is a common requirement in general knowledge and English literature related exams.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Statement A claims that "The Corrections" is written by Jonathan Franzen.
  • Statement B claims that "A Visit from the Goon Squad" is written by Edward P. Jones.
  • Statement C claims that "Forty Thieves" is written by Thomas Perry.
  • We must find which combination of A, B and C is correct.


Concept / Approach:
"The Corrections" is a well known novel by American writer Jonathan Franzen, dealing with a midwestern family. "A Visit from the Goon Squad" is by Jennifer Egan, not Edward P. Jones. "Forty Thieves" is a thriller by Thomas Perry. The approach is to recall or verify each of these matches and then pick the option that includes only true statements.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate Statement A. "The Corrections" is indeed by Jonathan Franzen, so Statement A is correct. Step 2: Evaluate Statement B. The novel "A Visit from the Goon Squad" is written by Jennifer Egan, so attributing it to Edward P. Jones is incorrect. Statement B is therefore wrong. Step 3: Evaluate Statement C. "Forty Thieves" is a thriller novel by Thomas Perry, so Statement C is correct. Step 4: From this, Statements A and C are correct while Statement B is incorrect. Step 5: The option that lists A and C together as correct is "A and C".


Verification / Alternative check:
Examining any reliable book list confirms these attributions. Jonathan Franzen and "The Corrections" are often mentioned together in discussions of major American novels. Jennifer Egan is always named as the author of "A Visit from the Goon Squad", which has its own distinct critical reputation. Thomas Perry is a recognised crime writer who wrote "Forty Thieves". Since Edward P. Jones is not connected to "A Visit from the Goon Squad", Statement B is clearly wrong and the combination of A and C is validated.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option "A and B" is wrong because it contains Statement B, which incorrectly names the author of "A Visit from the Goon Squad".
  • Option "B and C" is wrong for the same reason; Statement B is false even though Statement C is true.
  • Option "A, B and C" is wrong because it treats all three statements as correct when Statement B is definitely incorrect.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse names when several authors are learned at once. Some candidates may quickly assume that all three matches are correct or may not notice that "A Visit from the Goon Squad" actually belongs to Jennifer Egan, not Edward P. Jones. Carefully evaluating each statement one by one, instead of guessing based on familiarity, helps avoid such errors.


Final Answer:
The correct combination is A and C, because Jonathan Franzen wrote "The Corrections" and Thomas Perry wrote "Forty Thieves", while "A Visit from the Goon Squad" is not by Edward P. Jones.

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