Question

read the excerpt from chapter 7 of the scarlet letter using comprehension strategies.
\goodwives,\ said a hard - featured dame of fifty, \ill tell ye a piece of my mind. it would be greatly for the public behoof, if we women, being of mature age and church - members in good repute, should have the handling of such malefactresses as this hester prynne. what think ye, gossips? if the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded?\
what is the meaning of this excerpt?
the speaker believes that she and her peers ought to be in charge of assigning sentences in cases like hesters
the speaker believes she and her peers ought to be acknowledged for their good standing in the community
the speaker believes that the older women of the church ought to be allowed to serve as magistrates
the speaker believes that the magistrates have been too strict in their handling of hesters case

Explanation:

The speaker says "it would be greatly for the public behoof, if we women...should have the handling of such malefactresses as this Hester Prynne" and asks if Hester would "come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded" if judged by them (the women). This clearly indicates the speaker thinks she and her peers (the women) should handle (be in charge of assigning sentences) in cases like Hester's.

• Option B: There is no mention of wanting acknowledgment for good standing in the community. The focus is on handling the case, not getting credit for their status.
• Option C: The speaker does not say older women should serve as magistrates. They want to handle cases like Hester's, not take on the full - fledged role of magistrates.
• Option D: The speaker is not saying magistrates were too strict. She is suggesting that she and her peers should be the ones handling the case instead.

Answer:

A. The speaker believes that she and her peers ought to be in charge of assigning sentences in cases like Hester's