Explanation
Correct answer: D.
Choice D is the best answer because it presents a statement about King’s Cross, as depicted in Text 1, that the author of Text 2 would most likely agree with. In Text 1, Margaret associates King’s Cross with “Infinity” and sees its arches as portals for an adventure whose value transcends London’s mundane materialism. The author of Text 2 provides an interpretation of the novel’s geography that is consistent with Margaret’s vision, explaining that London represents capitalist materialism while the countryside—“accessible via King’s Cross”—fosters idealism, authentic connection, and the aesthetic (“the infinite”). By characterizing King’s Cross as a “point of connection between London and the countryside” that offers access to the “intangible abundance” promised by “the novel’s rural spaces,” choice D provides a reading of the railway terminal that aligns with the interpretive framework set up by the author of Text 2.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because Margaret views King’s Cross positively—as evoking infinity and eternal adventure—not as a sign of capitalism’s dominance. Text 1 characterizes St. Pancras’s splendors as “facile,” or superficial, so that the contrast elevates King’s Cross rather than signaling materialism’s ascendancy.
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because the author of Text 2 positions King’s Cross as a gateway to the countryside’s idealism, not as a vehicle for materialism intruding into rural spaces. Margaret’s sense of wonder at the station arises from her sense that it offers access to the countryside’s idealism rather than to London’s materialism.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because nothing in Text 1 suggests Margaret is disillusioned; her perception of King’s Cross is defined by expansive possibility, not resignation. Moreover, Margaret finds the austerity of King’s Cross (relative to St. Pancras) appealing—its unpretentious appearance resonates with her attitude toward the “materialism of life.”