Which excerpt highlights the theme of the fleeting nature of life?

• A. The quick passing of time and the fragility of youth.
• B. The lasting memory of love beyond death.
• C. The eternal nature of the soul.
• D. The permanence of art.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how a text shows that life is short and moments pass quickly through imagery of time and youth. The excerpt about the quick passing of time and the fragility of youth directly expresses that life is temporary and ever slipping away, which is exactly the theme of the fleeting nature of life. The other ideas point to endurance or permanence—love lasting beyond death, the soul’s eternity, or art’s permanence—areas that contrast with life’s temporary nature rather than illustrate it. So, the passage that centers on time moving swiftly and youth being fragile best captures the intended theme.