I remember the astonishment I felt when I first read Shakespeare. I ex

I remember the astonishment I felt when I first read Shakespeare. I expected to receive a powerful aesthetic pleasure, but having read, one after the other, works regarded as his
best: "King Lear," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," not only did I feel no delight, but I also felt an irresistible repulsion and tedium, and doubted as to whether I was senseless in feeling works regarded as the summit of perfection by the whole of the civilized world to be trivial and positively bad, or whether the significance which this civilized world attributes to the works of Shakespeare was itself senseless. My consternation was increased by the fact that I always keenly felt the beauties of poetry in every form; then why should artistic works recognized by the whole world as those of a genius not just fail to please me, but in fact be disagreeable to me?

For a long time I could not believe in myself, and during fifty years, in order to test myself, I several times recommenced reading Shakespeare in every possible form, in Russian, in English, in German and in Schlegel's translation, as I was advised. Several times I read the dramas and the comedies and historical plays, and I invariably underwent the same feelings: repulsion, weariness, and bewilderment. At the present time, before writing this preface, being desirous once more to test myself, I have, as an old man of seventy-five, again read the whole of Shakespeare, including the historical plays, the "Henrys," "Troilus and Cressida," the "Tempest," "Cymbeline," and I have felt, with even greater force, the same feelings, this time, however, not of bewilderment, but of firm, indubitable conviction that the unquestionable glory of a great genius which Shakespeare enjoys, and which compels writers of our time to imitate him and readers and spectators to discover in him non-existent merits,thereby distorting their aesthetic and ethical understanding,is a great evil, as is every untruth.

Although I know that the majority of people so firmly believe in the greatness of Shakespeare that in reading this judgment of mine they will not admit even to the possibility of its justice, and will not give it the slightest attention, nevertheless I will endeavour, as well as I can, to show why I believe that Shakespeare cannot be recognized either as a great genius, or even as an average author.

Q1) In context of the passage, what does the line - artistic works recognized by the whole world as those of a genius - refer to?
A. The poetry that was read and appreciated by the author
B. Those few works of Shakespeare that the author actually liked
C. The translations of Shakespeares popular works
D. The writings of the author of the passage
E. The majority of Shakespeares works

Q2) From the information in the passage, which of the following can most reasonably be
inferred about the author of the passage?
A. The author probably knew several languages
B. The author was most likely biased against Shakespeare
C. The author was scared of publicly criticising Shakespeares works
D. The author believed that Shakespeares works were actually evil
E. As the author read more of Shakespeares works, his dislike of the same
somewhat diminished

Q3) Each of the following can be inferred about Shakespeare from the passage EXCEPT:
A. There are some people who do not consider him a genius
B. His works are considered the best in the field by a lot of people
C. He is regarded as a great writer by a large number of people around the world
D. He did not limit himself to only one type of writing
E. He wrote in more than one language

Q4) What is the meaning of the word consternation in context of the passage?
A. Unhappiness
B. Sorrow
C. Disappointment
D. Confusion
E. Dejection