Question

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

rev. simon hosack entered fully into the feeling of suffering and sorrow which took possession of me when i discovered that a girl weighed less in the scale of being than a boy, and he praised my determination to prove the contrary. the old grammar which he had studied in the university of glasgow was soon in my hands, and the greek article was learned before breakfast.

which best retells the central idea in this excerpt?

• rev. simon hosack agrees to help stanton because he wants her to find out how difficult it is to learn greek.
• rev. simon hosack agrees to help stanton because he wants her to help him with his garden in exchange.
• rev. simon hosack does not agree with american societys view that boys are superior to girls.
• rev. simon hosack does not agree with stanton that her father wishes she were a boy.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

Using the Textual Analysis and Reading Comprehension knowledge points, we examine the text:

• The narrator expresses sorrow upon discovering "that a girl weighed less in the scale of being than a boy."
• Rev. Simon Hosack "entered fully into the feeling" and "praised my determination to prove the contrary."
• He supports her by providing his old grammar book to help her learn Greek.

Determine the central idea

Using the Central Idea knowledge point:

• The reverend understands the narrator's grief over gender inequality and actively supports her goal to prove that girls are equal to boys.
• This directly aligns with the idea that he disagrees with the societal view that boys are superior to girls.
• Other options misrepresent his motives (gardening, making Greek seem hard) or contradict the text.

Answer:

• Rev. Simon Hosack agrees to help Stanton because he wants her to find out how difficult it is to learn Greek.
• Rev. Simon Hosack agrees to help Stanton because he wants her to help him with his garden in exchange.
• Rev. Simon Hosack does not agree with American society's view that boys are superior to girls. (Correct answer)
• Rev. Simon Hosack does not agree with Stanton that her father wishes she were a boy.