"Woman in the Nineteenth Century" Reading Questions

What is the main idea of this passage?

• She argues that women, in the 19th Century, should have the same rights and equality as men.

• She dismisses the importance of women and idolizes what men bring to the table.

• She demonstrates examples of how women can help support their husbands.

• She provides a story about Mirand and argues how all women should be treated like her

Make an inference using textual evidence: What does the opening paragraph mainly reveal about the way men of the 19th century perceived women’s capabilities?

• They saw women as much more reasonable than men.

• They believed women had the gift a reason, her best ability.

• They saw women and children as especially good listeners.

• They felt women needed supervision because of their limited capacities.

Make an inference using textual evidence: What does the second paragraph mainly reveal about the way men of the 19th century perceived woman’s role in society?

• Women innately had public influence over their husbands.

• Men are unable to properly represent the interests of women.

• Women must remain as homemakers and stay out of public elections.

• Men find it offensive that women care for children.

Based on paragraphs 11-13, which inference about Miranda is most strongly supported?

• She had intellect but no emotional awareness, so men disliked her.

• Her father’s encouragement allowed her to freely develop her mind.

• Because she was too intelligent for men, she lived a lonely life.

• Although her father didn’t value her mind, she felt like an equal.

What is most closely the meaning of impaired as it is used in the following passage? Woman could take part in the processions, the songs, the dances of old religion; no one fancied her delicacy was impaired by appearing in public for such a cause.

• verb | improved

• verb | damaged

• noun | an amusement

• adjective | amplified

Looking at paragraph 6, what is most likely the author’s intention in the following statement? A house is no home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as for the body.

• To encourage men to take a more active role in home life.

• To say that one’s home must be intellectually stimulating for both men and women.

• To suggest that women need to provide for men by starting meals and fire.

• To highlight that a woman’s life is too dull without her rights.

Looking at the passage as a whole, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

• A woman is entitled to the freedom to develop her intellectual gifts to their fullest expression.

• A woman’s physical beauty can get in the way of her intellectual development.

• Religious festivals and careers in acting are good outlets for women’s public expansion.

• Every woman’s purpose is to satisfy men’s needs without hesitation.