Question

1. to show the different ways that punishment for crime was applied to different people, the narrator says that:

\... the hangman, ever busy and ever worse than useless, was in constant requisition; now, stringing up long rows of miscellaneous criminals; now, hanging a housebreaker on saturday who had been taken on tuesday; now, burning people in the hand at newgate by the dozen, and now burning pamphlets at the door of westminster hall; today, taking the life of an atrocious murderer, and to - morrow of a wretched pilferer who had robbed a farmer’s boy of sixpence.\
based on this context, what type of person does the phrase wretched pilferer suggest?
a. a clever, greedy robber
b. a vicious, cold - hearted killer
c. a poor, unlucky thief
d. a lonely, kind - hearted runaway

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "wretched pilferer", we analyze the context. The pilferer robbed a farmer’s boy of sixpence (a small amount), and the term "wretched" implies a pitiable or unfortunate state. Option A's "clever, greedy" doesn't fit the small theft. Option B's "vicious, cold - hearted killer" is incorrect as the crime is theft, not murder. Option D's "kind - hearted runaway" contradicts the act of theft. Option C, "a poor, unlucky thief", matches: "wretched" suggests misfortune, and "pilferer" (thief) who stole a small amount could be seen as poor or unlucky to face severe punishment.

Answer:

C. a poor, unlucky thief