Question

multiple-choice question
what is the significance of this remark?
hale believes academic knowledge gives him authority.
hale thinks he will look less important if he carries around lots of heavy books.
hale believes books will tell him how to seize power over the people of salem.
hale thinks the people of salem must learn to read if they are to overcome this situation.

parris (taking some books)
... my! theyre heavy!
hale
they must be; they are weighted with authority.

Explanation:

The quote “They must be; they are weighted with authority” from Hale shows that he believes the academic knowledge (from the books) gives him authority. The other options are incorrect: the second option is about the books' appearance with many heavy books (not about significance), the third is about seizing power (not related to the quote), and the fourth is about people learning to read (not what the quote implies). So the first option matches the significance of the remark.

Answer:

A. Hale believes academic knowledge gives him authority.