Question

read this excerpt from chapter 1 of the scarlet letter using comprehension strategies.
in accordance with this rule, it may safely be assumed that the forefathers of boston had built the first prison - house, somewhere in the vicinity of cornhill, almost as seasonably as they marked out the first burial - ground, on isaac johnson’s lot, and round about his grave, which subsequently became the nucleus of all the congregated sepulchres in the old church - yard of king’s chapel.
what is the meaning of this excerpt?

• the prison and cemetery were built early, with the cemetery expanding in size from its original plot.
• the prison was built near cornhill, and the cemetery was built on an important man’s property.
• just as puritans gathered at the prison, they also gathered at the cemetery and the church.
• the forefathers of boston chose the two most famous landmarks: the prison and the cemetery.

Explanation:

The excerpt states Boston's forefathers built the first prison near Cornhill early, alongside marking the first burial-ground (Isaac Johnson’s lot), which later became the core of King’s Chapel’s church-yard sepulchres. This means both structures were early, with the cemetery expanding from its original plot.

Answer:

The prison and cemetery were built early, with the cemetery expanding in size from its original plot.