Critical Reading For Exams / Short Reading Comprehension 4


Love is necessary to righting the estate of woman in this world. Otherwise nature itself seems to be in conspiracy  against her dignity and welfare; for the cultivated, high-thoughted, beauty-loving, saintly woman finds herself  unconsciously desired for her sex, and even enhancing the appetite of her savage pursuers by these fine ornaments  she has piously laid on herself. She finds with indignation that she is herself a snare, and was made such. I do not  wonder at her occasional protest, violent protest, against nature, in fleeing to nunneries, and taking black veils. 
Love rights all this deep wrong. 



According to the passage, plausible remedies to ward off being sought only for pleasure include

Marrying to gain a rightly estate as warranted by nature
Making a pact with nature to lessen the adornments and ornaments given by her
Adorning herself with ornaments piously laid on herself
Aligning herself with the cultivated, dignified, and well-thought-of man
Removing herself to a place where men are unwelcome

Sans love, what does the author purport to be the state of woman in this world?

A conduit of pleasure greatly sought particularly as a result of her own adornment
Held in lofty esteem adorned much by nature with a raw beauty
A soul without indignation and a snare of such prowess as to catch any suitor
A bobble to be greatly appreciated and gifted beyond compare
In a piteous state with little alternative but to be sought for her pleasures

The phrase, “savage pursuers,” in line 3 refers to

Jealous women who desire to be more beautiful
Men who don’t easily give up once they discover the woman they love
Men who would provide love and stability
Potential suitors who would provide wealth and happiness
Men who would not provide love and strip her of dignity

The author’s attitude toward women can best be described as one of

Incredulity
Admiration
Condescension
Understanding
Suspicion

 
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