Question

read the excerpt from eighty years and more: reminiscences, 1815-1897.

so, as soon as we were dismissed, i ran down the hill, rushed breathless into my fathers office, laid the new greek testament, which was my prize, on his table and exclaimed: \there, i got it!\ he took up the book, asked me some questions about the class, the teachers, the spectators, and evidently pleased, handed it back to me. then, while i stood looking and waiting for him to say something which would show that he recognized the equality of the daughter with the son, he kissed me on the forehead and exclaimed, with a sigh, \ah, you should have been a boy.\

based on this excerpt, what can be stated about elizabeth cady stantons achievements during her childhood?

even though stantons achievements equaled those of a boy, she was considered more accomplished because she was a girl.
because she proved that she could obtain the same types of achievements, stanton earned equality with boys.
because she was a girl, stanton was unable to obtain the same types of achievements as boys her age.
even though stantons achievements equaled those of a boy, she was considered less accomplished because she was a girl.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

The excerpt describes Elizabeth Cady Stanton winning a "new Greek Testament" as a prize. She rushes to show her father, hoping he will recognize "the equality of the daughter with the son." Although her father is "evidently pleased," he sighs and says, "Ah, you should have been a boy." This shows that despite her high academic achievement (equaling or exceeding what was expected of boys), her accomplishments were undervalued or viewed with regret simply because she was a girl.

Evaluate the options

Using Reading Comprehension and Textual Analysis, we can evaluate each choice:

• Option 1 suggests she was considered more accomplished because she was a girl. This is incorrect; her father's sigh and remark show disappointment that she was not a boy.
• Option 2 suggests she earned equality with boys. This is incorrect; her father's reaction ("you should have been a boy") highlights that she was still not viewed as equal.
• Option 3 suggests she was unable to obtain the same achievements. This is incorrect; she did obtain the prize (the Greek Testament), proving she was capable of the achievement.
• Option 4 states that even though her achievements equaled those of a boy, she was considered less accomplished because she was a girl. This matches the text, as her achievement did not grant her the equal recognition she sought from her father due to her gender.

Answer:

• Even though Stanton's achievements equaled those of a boy, she was considered more accomplished because she was a girl.
• Because she proved that she could obtain the same types of achievements, Stanton earned equality with boys.
• Because she was a girl, Stanton was unable to obtain the same types of achievements as boys her age.
• Even though Stanton's achievements equaled those of a boy, she was considered less accomplished because she was a girl. (Correct answer)