Question

read this excerpt from chapter 1 of the scarlet letter using comprehension strategies.
but, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose - bush, covered, in this month of june, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of nature could pity and be kind to him.
what is the meaning of this excerpt?
puritans plant a rosebush near the prison to comfort criminals.
the rosebush is more beautiful and fragile than anything else near the prison.
the rosebush is natures offering to those who must enter or leave the prison.
puritans believe that criminals deserve a view of beauty from their cells.

Explanation:

The text describes a wild rose - bush near the prison portal. It says the rose - bush offers its fragrance and beauty to the prisoner going in and the condemned criminal coming out. This implies that it is nature's (the wild rose - bush is a part of nature) offering to those associated with the prison (entering or leaving).

• The first option is wrong because there is no mention of Puritans planting the bush.
• The second option is incorrect as there is no comparison with other things near the prison in terms of beauty and fragility.
• The fourth option is wrong as there is no mention of Puritans' beliefs about criminals' cell views.

Answer:

The rosebush is nature's offering to those who must enter or leave the prison.