DeeRocket wrote:
I could not understand the meaning of the sentence (considering C is the correct answer).
Hello
DeeRocket,
We hope this finds you well.
Having gone through the question and your query, we believe that we can help resolve your doubt.
If we remove all the extra information conveyed through the phrase "according to which the nature of a being is naive and, therefore, noble", we get the core meaning of the sentence- that the act of portraying virtue as a function of simplicity by using the "noble savage" image involves following in a long tradition of chroniclers; the construction "infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb")" conveys that the the first action involves or is the equivalent of the second.
The extra information is conveyed through the modifying phrase "according to which the nature of a being is naive and, therefore, noble", which acts upon "noble savage" image", conveying that as per the "noble savage" image, the fundamental nature of a being is naive, and therefore the nature is also noble.
The complete sentence also modifies "long tradition of chroniclers" with "from Columbus to Steinbeck", implying that this tradition extends from Columbus to Steinbeck.
Thus, the complete meaning of the sentence is that the act of portraying virtue as a function of simplicity by using the "noble savage" image involves following in a long tradition of chroniclers; this tradition extends from Columbus to Steinbeck, and according to the "noble savage" image, the fundamental nature of a being is naive, and therefore the nature is also noble.
We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team