SAT English Practice Question

The author uses repetition in the first sentence to emphasize the point that the characters are very much alike. This is an important feature of the passage, because it sets up a contrast with the second sentence, which describes how the characters are different from one another. What is the most likely reason why the author chose to make this contrast?

1. A.highlight the superficiality of the characters' differences.
2. B.suggest that the characters' similarities are more important than their differences.
3. C.emphasize the importance of the characters' shared history.
4. D.show that the characters are not as similar as they first appear.