Passage 6e: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication on the Rights of Woman

In context, the word "solicitude" in line 2 most nearly means: (A) attention (B) isolation (C) unity (D) discourse (E) petition

(A) attention Explanation: In context, "solicitude" most nearly means "attention." The writer refers to herself as watching the world with "anxious solicitude," meaning that she is watching the world events with an anxious, concerned attention.

The tone of the passage can best be described as: (A) measured indignation (B) cautious admonition (C) incredulous bewilderment (D) unapologetic criticism (E) irreverent sarcasm

(A) measured indignation Explanation: The tone can best be described as measured indignation because the writer is angry about the education of women. However, she expresses this anger in a limited amount. She is frustrated and angry, but she does admit that she sees women as inferior, which limits her anger.

What may be considered ironic by current-day readers is the fact that the writer claims: (A) women are inferior to men (B) women ought to be taught to have more noble goals (C) women are enfeebled by the education provided for them (D) men are not satisfied with their physical dominance (E) men are responsible for keeping women down

(A) women are inferior to men Explanation: One of the surprising facts about this passage is that the writer, a woman fighting for the improvement of women's education, discusses what she believes to be the natural inferiority of women in comparison to men. This may be considered ironic by current-day readers, who would expect the opposite from this writer

The sentence "The conduct and manners of women, in fact, evidently prove, that their minds are not in a healthy state; for, like the flowers that are planted in too rich a soil, strength and usefulness are sacrificed to beauty; and the flaunting leaves, after having pleased a fastidious eye, fade, disregarded on the stalk, long before the season when they ought to have arrived at maturity" is developed by: (A) allusion (B) analogy (C) anecdote (D) antithesis (E) apostrophe

(B) analogy Explanation: The sentence develops an analogy between women's minds and flowers that are planted in too rich a soil. The comparison helps clarify that women are educated to be pleasing and that this flawed approach to their education proves detrimental.

The writer finds fault with the education of women for all of the following reasons except: (A) it teaches women to please rather than to be useful (B) it teaches women to value love over respect (C) it is self-inflicted by women (D) it does not consider women people (E) it weakens women's minds

(C) it is self-inflicted by women Explanation: The writer does not point to the education of women as being self-inflicted by women on themselves. It points to the writings and prejudices of men in not treating women as equals.

The primary purpose of the passage is to: (A) inform (B) entertain (C) persuade (D) refute (E) defend

(C) persuade Explanation: The writer's purpose is to persuade readers that women's education needs reform and that this education should not be limited to the goal of making women more alluring. It should instead seek to make women respectable.

The primary mode of composition of the passage is: (A) narration (B) description (C) process analysis (D) argument (E) classification

(D) argument Explanation:The passage is an argument. It seeks to persuade readers of the need to reform women's education. The passage addresses possible counterargument that others would argue that the writer is dealing with the issue of equality between the sexes. The writer has a clear stance and she wishes to persuade her readers.

According to the fi rst paragraph, the primary cause of the disparate conditions of people is: (A) government (B) parents and family (C) civilization (D) education (E) women

(D) education Explanation: According to the writer, "the neglected education of my fellow creatures is the grand source of the misery I deplore." The rest of the passage discusses the problems of women as a result of flaws in their education.

After reading history and making observations around her, the writer of the passage has concluded the following to be true: I. there are differences between people that are attributable to nature II. there are differences in treatment that have resulted from civilization III. the disparities between people are both saddening and infuriating (A) I (B) II (C) III (D) I and III (E) I, II, and III

(E) I, II, and III Explanation: All of the provided statements are true according to the first sentence of the passage. The writer refers to "sorrowful indignation," which points to both sadness and anger as a result of the difference between people that is either a result of nature or their unequal treatment that is a result of civilization.

In context, the word "society" in line 44 most nearly means: (A) a group of humans (B) a group of people with a common culture (C) a group of people with a common interest (D) the privileged social class (E) company or companionship

(E) company or companionship Explanation:The last word of the passage is "society," and it most nearly means "company or companionship" in that the claim is that women do not seek to be friends with the fellow creatures (men) when in their company