Mansfield Park - narrator implies Mr. Rushworth

In the first sentence of the passage, the narrator implies which of the following about Mr. Rushworth?

• If he had not thought that Miss Bertram was beautiful, he might nonetheless have been inclined to marry her.

• If he had already been married when he met Miss Bertram, he would not have thought that she was beautiful.

• If he had not been disposed to get married, he might not have thought himself in love with Miss Bertram.

• If he had known much about Miss Bertram other than her physical beauty, he would not have thought he was in love with her.

• If he had truly loved Miss Bertram, he would have wanted to marry her even if she were not beautiful.

Which statement best describes the narrative technique employed in lines 3-6 (“He was . . . conquest”) ?

• The narrator generates humor by means of hyperbole.

• The narrator uses negation to convey mere adequacy.

• The narrator cites a particular instance as the basis for a generalization.

• The narrator uses an oxymoron to highlight a contradiction.

• The narrator underscores a point with a redundant reiteration.

In line 10, “enjoyment” is best understood to mean

• extravagance

• appraisal

• diversion

• interest

• use

The attraction that Miss Bertram feels for Mr. Rushworth is best characterized as

• material

• physical

• idealistic

• intellectual

• moral

The attraction that Miss Bertram feels for Mr. Rushworth is best characterized as

• material

• physical

• idealistic

• intellectual

• moral

The “understanding” (sentence 5) between Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Rushworth is marked by

• wary distrust

• veiled hostility

• mutual flattery

• genuine fondness

• subtle rivalry

The narrator’s attitude toward the characters presented in the first paragraph (lines 1-36) is best described as

• jovial enthusiasm

• reluctant admiration

• scientific curiosity

• wry amusement

• scornful disrespect

By noting that Mr. Rushworth and Miss Bertram “justified these opinions” (line 38), the narrator implies that they

• rapidly fell in love with each other despite warnings to be cautious

• dispassionately assessed the advantages of their marriage

• seemed to have no other serious marital prospects

• were widely praised as an attractive young couple

• were viewed by members of their social circle as an appropriate match

Lines 49-51 (“and no . . . present”) suggest that Mrs. Norris did which of the following?

• Lent credibility to a rumor by vigorously denying it

• Implied a fact by conspicuously refusing to discuss it

• Spread gossip by pretending to be a mere messenger

• Quelled a scandal by decisively forbidding it to be talked of

• Bragged about an event by feigning ignorance of its significance

It can be inferred from the passage that the narrator regards Edmund’s assessment of Mr. Rushworth (lines 52-61) as

• excessively charitable

• surprisingly naïve

• essentially correct

• unfairly biased

• overly negative