Excerpt from
"The Sentimentality of William Tavener"
by Willa Cather
1. It takes a strong woman to make any sort of success of living in the West, and Hester undoubtedly was that. When people spoke of Willlam Tavener as the most prosperous farmer in McPherson County, they usually added that his wife was a "good manager." She was an executive woman, quick of tongue and something of an imperatrix,; The only reason her husband did not consult her about his business was that she did not wait to be consulted.
2. It would have been quite impossible for one man, within the limited sphere of human action, to follow all Hester's advice, but in the end Willlam usually acted upon some of her suggestions. When she incessantly denounced the "shiftlessness" of letting a new threshing machine stand unprotected in the open, he eventually built a shed for it. When the first heavy rains came on, and the pigs rooted down the sod wall and made little path is all over it to facilitate their ascent, he heard his wife relate with relish the story of the little pig that built a mud house, to the minister at the dinner table, and William's gravity never relaxed for an instant: Hester, indeed, was William’s refuge and his strength.
3. William set his boys a wholesome example to respect their mother: People who knew him very well suspected that he even admired her. He was a hard man towards his neighbors, and even towards his sons; grasping, determined and ambitious.
4. One spring night Hester sat in a rocking chair by the sitting room window, darning socks. She rocked violently and sent her long needle vigorously back and forth over her gourd, and it took only a very casual glance to see that she was wrought up over something. William sat on the other side of the table reading his farm paper. If he had noticed his wife's agitation, his calm, clean-shaven face betrayed no sign of concern. He must have noticed the sarcastic tum of her remarks at the supper table, and he must have noticed the moody silence of the older boys as they ate. But William Tavener never heeded ominous forecasts in the domestic horizon, and he never looked for a storm until it broke.
5. After supper the boys had gone to the pond under the willows it the big Cattle corral, to get rid of the dust of plowing. Hester could hear an occasional splash and a laugh ringing clear through the stillness of the night, as she sat by the open window. She was silent for almost an hour reviewing in her mind many plans of attack. But she was too vigorous a woman to be much of a strategist, and she usually came to her point with directness. At last she cut her thread and suddenly put her darning down, saying emphatically:
6. “William, I don’t think it would hurt you to let the boys go to that circus in town tomorrowâ€
The only reason her husband did not consult her about his business was that she did not wait to be consulted. What role does the sentence play in the excerpt?
- A. It foreshadows a decision the characters will face
- B. It develops the theme of cooperation.
- C. It helps establish important character traits
- D. It emphasizes a conflict over money.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The sentence highlights key character traits, particularly the husband's independence and the wife's assertiveness. This dynamic reveals their communication patterns and individual approaches to decision-making, which are crucial for understanding their relationship. Option A is incorrect, as the statement does not hint at future decisions but rather reflects their current situation. Option B misinterprets the essence of their relationship; it suggests cooperation, while the sentence indicates a lack of it. Option D inaccurately focuses on money, whereas the sentence centers on their interpersonal dynamics, not financial conflict.
The sentence highlights key character traits, particularly the husband's independence and the wife's assertiveness. This dynamic reveals their communication patterns and individual approaches to decision-making, which are crucial for understanding their relationship. Option A is incorrect, as the statement does not hint at future decisions but rather reflects their current situation. Option B misinterprets the essence of their relationship; it suggests cooperation, while the sentence indicates a lack of it. Option D inaccurately focuses on money, whereas the sentence centers on their interpersonal dynamics, not financial conflict.
Other Related Questions
Which statement best summarizes this story?
- A. A small community depends on the kindness and hard work of a beekeeper.
- B. A beekeeper realizes someone is stealing his honey and this causes him to think of other struggles he faces.
- C. A clever thief enjoys confusing a beekeeper and stealing from people in a small community.
- D. A beekeeper dreads competition with other honey producers and considers the difficulties of raising bees.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B effectively captures the essence of the story by highlighting the beekeeper's realization about theft and his reflection on broader struggles. This introspection is central to the narrative, emphasizing personal growth and conflict. Option A, while mentioning the community and the beekeeper's contributions, lacks the critical element of the beekeeper's realization and struggles. Option C focuses too much on the thief, which detracts from the beekeeper's perspective and the story's deeper themes. Option D misrepresents the beekeeper's primary concern, which is not competition but rather the impact of theft on his livelihood and emotional state.
Option B effectively captures the essence of the story by highlighting the beekeeper's realization about theft and his reflection on broader struggles. This introspection is central to the narrative, emphasizing personal growth and conflict. Option A, while mentioning the community and the beekeeper's contributions, lacks the critical element of the beekeeper's realization and struggles. Option C focuses too much on the thief, which detracts from the beekeeper's perspective and the story's deeper themes. Option D misrepresents the beekeeper's primary concern, which is not competition but rather the impact of theft on his livelihood and emotional state.
In paragraph 5 the author states that opponents of wave technology 'claim that deploying ocean wave devices could also disrupt the relationships that people have with the oceans...' To what extent is this claim supported?
- A. It is unsupported because the author follows the claim with subjective information.
- B. It is unsupported because the author follows the claim with a counterexample that disproves it.
- C. It is well supported because the author follows it with facts and objective evidence.
- D. It is well supported because the author follows it with scientific data that furthers the claim.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The claim about ocean wave devices disrupting relationships is unsupported, as the author follows it with subjective information rather than objective evidence. Option B is incorrect; there is no counterexample provided that disproves the claim. Option C is also wrong, as the author does not present factual or objective evidence to bolster the assertion. Option D misinterprets the text by suggesting that scientific data supports the claim, while in reality, the subsequent information lacks the necessary objectivity to substantiate it effectively.
The claim about ocean wave devices disrupting relationships is unsupported, as the author follows it with subjective information rather than objective evidence. Option B is incorrect; there is no counterexample provided that disproves the claim. Option C is also wrong, as the author does not present factual or objective evidence to bolster the assertion. Option D misinterprets the text by suggesting that scientific data supports the claim, while in reality, the subsequent information lacks the necessary objectivity to substantiate it effectively.
Which sentence from the blog supports Rodriguez's claim that the Equal Protection Clause was too narrow in scope when first adopted?
- A. The Court even confirmed its prejudicial position in 1875 when it upheld state laws that extended the right to vote only to men.'
- B. Clearly, the Court was relegating as women to a second-class status.'
- C. The 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868, applied only to men.'
- D. This decision remained the law until ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving us women the right to vote, 45 years later.'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A highlights the Court's 1875 decision to uphold laws that restricted voting rights to men, illustrating how the Equal Protection Clause initially failed to encompass all citizens, particularly women. This directly supports Rodriguez's argument about the clause's narrow scope. Option B, while indicating the second-class status of women, does not specifically reference the Equal Protection Clause or its limitations. Option C states that the 14th Amendment applied only to men, but it lacks context about the Court's decisions and their implications. Option D discusses the timeline of women's voting rights but does not address the initial constraints of the Equal Protection Clause.
Option A highlights the Court's 1875 decision to uphold laws that restricted voting rights to men, illustrating how the Equal Protection Clause initially failed to encompass all citizens, particularly women. This directly supports Rodriguez's argument about the clause's narrow scope. Option B, while indicating the second-class status of women, does not specifically reference the Equal Protection Clause or its limitations. Option C states that the 14th Amendment applied only to men, but it lacks context about the Court's decisions and their implications. Option D discusses the timeline of women's voting rights but does not address the initial constraints of the Equal Protection Clause.
Which phrase does the author use to support the claims made by ocean wave power proponents?
- A. ...the technology is likely to displace marine ecosystems and introduce pollutants into marine waters.'
- B. …any risk to our fragile ecosystems is too much of a risk.'
- C. …the technology does not use or waste water, but merely displaces it.'
- D. Additionally, there are several methods and locations of deployment for these devices…'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C effectively supports the claims made by ocean wave power proponents by highlighting a key advantage of the technology: it does not waste water, which is crucial for environmental sustainability. This emphasizes the efficiency and eco-friendliness of ocean wave power. Option A presents a concern regarding negative impacts on marine ecosystems, which contradicts the proponents' claims. Option B expresses a cautionary stance that undermines the potential benefits of ocean wave energy. Option D, while informative, does not directly support the positive claims about the technology’s environmental impact.
Option C effectively supports the claims made by ocean wave power proponents by highlighting a key advantage of the technology: it does not waste water, which is crucial for environmental sustainability. This emphasizes the efficiency and eco-friendliness of ocean wave power. Option A presents a concern regarding negative impacts on marine ecosystems, which contradicts the proponents' claims. Option B expresses a cautionary stance that undermines the potential benefits of ocean wave energy. Option D, while informative, does not directly support the positive claims about the technology’s environmental impact.