Question

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

when i was eleven years old, two events occurred which changed considerably the current of my life. my only brother, who had just graduated from union college, came home to die. a young man of great talent and promise, he was the pride of my fathers heart. we early felt that this son filled a larger place in our fathers affections and future plans than the five daughters together.

based on this excerpt, which question would best help the reader understand stantons view of the path her life took?

what illness caused the death of stantons brother?
what were the two events that shaped stantons life?
what were the future plans of the five stanton daughters?
what were stantons feelings about attending union college?

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt's central focus

The excerpt from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's autobiography states: "When I was eleven years old, two events occurred which changed considerably the current of my life." It then introduces the first major event: the death of her only brother, who "filled a larger place in our father's affections and future plans than the five daughters together."

Evaluate the question options

• Option 1 ("What illness caused the death of Stanton's brother?") focuses on a minor, unmentioned factual detail rather than her view of her life's path.
• Option 2 ("What were the two events that shaped Stanton's life?") directly addresses her explicit statement about the "two events... which changed considerably the current of my life," helping the reader understand the turning points of her life's path.
• Option 3 ("What were the future plans of the five Stanton daughters?") focuses on a side detail regarding the daughters' plans, which are only mentioned to contrast with the father's focus on the son.
• Option 4 ("What were Stanton's feelings about attending Union College?") is incorrect because it was her brother who graduated from Union College, not Stanton.

Select the best inquiry question

Option 2 is the most effective question because it directly targets the overarching structure and turning points of her life's path as introduced by the author herself.

Answer:

• What illness caused the death of Stanton's brother?
• What were the two events that shaped Stanton's life? (Correct answer)
• What were the future plans of the five Stanton daughters?
• What were Stanton's feelings about attending Union College?