- I would certainly disagree. If I'm confessing something, I am certainly apologetic. That is obviously subjective though.
- But it isn't an excuse! It is true. You don't make an excuse if you are being honest and straightforward. He is honestly saying that is he must leave.
- That line is completely irrelevant to this question. The narrator is third person and thus does not reflect the views of either character.
There has been some disagreement in our house about this question. My son, who received an 800 on verbal in 7th grade, took the exam this year as a junior and chose Confession. As an equally high scorer from the 1980s who has only heard the debates and read the passage, I vote for Excuse. Both of us see why the other answer makes a lot of sense. The argument Plotinus makes in #1769 regarding how the passage fits into the book definitely makes the answer clearer–and in fact when I read the passage, I believed it was indeed an excuse partly because it seemed so clear to me that the male character just wanted to get the woman in bed. I second-guessed that idea, however, because it did not seem to me that the College Board would refer to such a situation. Since this story line is not in the SAT passage itself, it should be irrelevant. Still, knowing that information may have allowed the test makers to make certain assumptions. My son’s ultimate conclusion: the College Board will throw out the question and it will not be graded.
- A confession has to be of something shameful or criminal. A person might be apologetic or not, but certainly would be ashamed or embarrassed. Wanting to show the girlfriend the house before dark is not shameful or embarrassing.
- As I said in a previous comment, AN EXCUSE CAN BE TRUE, and people who are honest make excuses. Here is the definition of "excuse" from Merriam-Webster's:
Full Definition of EXCUSE
1: the act of excusing
2a : something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused
b plural : an expression of regret for failure to do something
c : a note of explanation of an absence
3: justification, reason
As you can see, an “excuse” is not necessarily a lie. This is just one common meaning in informal spoken English.
- So the narrator thought that Ria and boyfriend were imprisoned by the relatives, but the narrator is wrong, and in fact Ria and the boyfriend were having a great time? Why would the author have the narrator make an observation that does not reflect what couple was feeling?
I would have to say that the narrator is relevant because the author knows very well what the intentions are behind his characters, and he obviously will not contradict them.
@HodgesSchool How does your son explain “And then they were free”?
“the College Board will throw out the question and it will not be graded” = wishful thinking.
But I am really glad I am not the only one here who was good at analogies. 
Oh, @Plotinus! I do so miss the analogies!
My son argues that “and then they were free” can be read very casually. “And then they were outside,” in other words. I disagree–but I see his point. While I definitely would pick “excuse” in this case, I can imagine saying “confess” just to mean “acknowledge or reveal something previously undivulged.”
How often does the College Board throw out questions? Is it that unusual? (I think there was one question on last year’s PSAT which got thrown out.)
“and then they were free” if told from the POV of Danny implies that Danny wasnt having a good time and was looking for a reason or moment to leave the scene. There is no indication of that. in fact, he was having a great time so why would there be a need for him to make an excuse. those who justify excuse are coming up with obscure definitions when ETS was referring to simple definitions. To make an excuse about something and to confess a statement were the simple definitions.
@HodgesSchool “the male character just wanted to get the woman in bed.” Thats a huge mistake on your part to make that bold inference. In fact, the character Danny was most likely very genuine at this point. He probably had no intention to just “get her in bed” and either way, were talking about Danny wanting to show Ria the house, not them trying to hit off to a motel. The fact that he is showing her the house for the first time and that Danny is telling her parents for the first time is ample reason to conclude that he is confessing something to them. Confessing= telling new information.
Hahaha XD
Does anyone have the link to the book
My two cents on the issue: I personally can see how it could go either way but I personally see “confession” as the more extreme answer. College Board has to be able to literally point to in-context evidence to prove every single answer choice. After the remark made by Danny it states that he made the remark apologetically. Apologetic is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “regretfully acknowledging fault or failure,” or “offered by way of excuse or apology.”
I believe that if it were a confession then Danny would’ve initially promised to stay the entire time, or the family would have expected him to stay the entire time. However, it can be reasonably inferred from the passage that Danny had not promised to stay forever, the family only wanted him to. Confession, as a simple sentimental English word, implies that Danny did something wrong. Although it can be understood to mean something less extreme, overall, “confession” does not seem to fit as well as excuse does.
As for “and then they were free,” the diction of “free” from a third person limited narrator implies that Ria was happy to leave the house. “Free” implies that being with Danny alone is preferable. Wouldn’t you make excuses to get into a situation that you actually want to be in? Danny is even more “in love” than Ria is
Here are some slightly weaker points:
Ria did not promise in the passage to go visit Danny’s house, did she? Danny may actually want to show her the house, but is his primary motive to show her the house or to be alone with her?
Danny only wants to have a positive effect on the family. Does he really want to be there? Danny seems to me to be a skillful manipulator who plots his every move and tries hard to get what he wants. In other words, he’s slightly fake.
Of course, I can argue in favor of “confession” too. We’ll find out in a few hours, won’t we?
@HodgesSchool “My son argues that 'and then they were free” can be read very casually. "And then they were outside,’ "
I don’t find this reading plausible at all. In this sentence, “Free” = “liberated” not “outdoors”. The couple was fulfilling a family obligation. When it was over, they were liberated.
“confess” just to means “acknowledge or reveal something previously undivulged.”,
I don’t think this is a correct definition of “confession”.
@krauser126 “Confessing= telling new information”
I don’t think this is a correct definition of confession either.
The definitions I am using are the FIRST definitions given in the dictionary. The definitions you are using come from colloquial usage. In colloquial usage, “confess” could mean “admit something not previously said.” In formal usage, “confess” = “admit something shameful or criminal.” This is the SAT. The language of the answer choices is formal.
Here is a reference:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confession
a written or spoken statement in which you say that you have done something wrong or committed a crime
: the act of telling people something that makes you embarrassed, ashamed, etc.
: the act of telling your sins to God or to a priest
Full Definition of CONFESSION
1a : an act of confessing; especially : a disclosure of one’s sins in the sacrament of reconciliation
b : a session for the confessing of sins
2: a statement of what is confessed: as
a : a written or oral acknowledgment of guilt by a party accused of an offense
b : a formal statement of religious beliefs : creed
I have seen two or three questions get thrown out by CB over the last 5 years or so.
I am not a sage so I don’t know how likely it is that this question could be thrown out. My non-sage estimate is 0%.
I have found this discussion very interesting. I am really fascinated by the tenacity with which some kids are defending “confession”. I think it is not a coincidence that the older people like “excuse”. This is a passage that may be very difficult to interpret for a young person who does not have much experience of this kind of old-fashioned bring the boyfriend home to meet the parents for the first time situation, or with relationships in which the girl won’t sleep with the boy unless he proves he loves her, meets her family, etc. It shows that this Irish lady author is writing about a world quite unlike the world of modern American teenagers. In fact, I found the characters and the whole story really dreadful, partly for this reason. Completely outdated. That is why my first comment was that anyone who has in-laws knows that the answer is “excuse”. My guess is that the ETS question editors are old-fashioned, use formal language in writing, and have in-laws. They will not see any ambiguity in the question.
Any married people out there who want to defend “confession”?
Do we agree that the purpose of the passage was to show a budding relationship?
Of course, in colloquial language, we place a negative connotation on the word “excuse,” i.e. “no more excuses”
But, an excuse can be a legitimate reason, albeit a slightly weak one.
One last thing: theoretically, you are not supposed to bring in any outside knowledge into the SAT whatsoever. Everything is based on the passages.
However, naturally, you are supposed to make good, pragmatic inferences based on your experience as a human being, so your argument about the “older people” has some merit.
I’m honestly done arguing this. I still stand by my belief that confession is right. We will find out what is right or likely right soon.
@Plotinus I think you are absolutely right that this passage makes sense to older adults much more than it would to young people.
I agree with you “excuse” seems like the better answer–but just to play things out, the usage of “confess” (as opposed to “confession”) is really quite loose. Perhaps this fact contributes to so many people’s choice of that answer?
admit or acknowledge something reluctantly, typically because one feels slightly ashamed or embarrassed:
“I must confess that I was slightly surprised”
to own or admit as true:
“I must confess that I haven’t read the book.”
Personally, the idea that the man was trying to appear slightly ashamed that he wanted to leave almost plays into the ‘Impress the In-laws’ game.
Hahah, with 32 new notifications I thought they had released the results earlier. You guys tease.
And if I kept all the two cents on that damn question I’m seeing, I could pay my tuition.
But you know what would be funny? If the answer to that question was a completely different response like “synergy” or something. I’d give 10 points of my CR to see the looks on everyone’s faces hahaha