Question

(questions 29-31)
a letter to abraham lincoln written by a young girl
westfield chautauque co. ny
oct 15, 1860
hon. a b lincoln
dear sir
my father has just come home from the fair and brought home your picture and mr. hannibal hamlin’s (lincoln’s running mate). i am a little girl only eleven years old, but want you should be president of the united states very much so i hope you won’t think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are.
have you any little girls about as large as i am if so give them my love an tell her to write me if you cannot answer this letter. i have got 4 brother’s and pair of them will vote for you any way and if you will let you whiskers grow i will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. all the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be president. my father is going to vote for you and if i was a man i would vote for you to but i will try and get every one to vote for you that i can think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty. i have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. when you direct your letter direct to grace bedell westfield chautauque county new york
i must not write any more answer this letter right off good bye.
(grace bedell)

directions: use the letter written by a young girl to abraham lincoln to answer questions 29-31.
29 which line best summarizes the point that grace bedell is trying to make about lincoln’s whiskers? (1)
a he should grow some because it would cause the ladies to fall in love with him.
b he should shave them immediately because he looks like a serial killer.
c he should grow some because his sons would like him better.
d he should grow some because it would make more people vote for him.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the letter: Grace says "I will try and get every one to vote for you that I can think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty... If you will let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin." So she thinks growing whiskers will make more people vote for Lincoln. Let's check options:

• Option A: Says "ladies to fall in love" – the letter is about getting people to vote, not love. Eliminate.
• Option B: Says "shave them" – but she wants him to grow whiskers. Eliminate.
• Option C: Says "his sons would like him better" – the letter doesn't mention sons. Eliminate.
• Option D: Says "it would make more people vote for him" – matches her reasoning (get more to vote by growing whiskers).

Answer:

D. He should grow some because it would make more people vote for him.