lesson pretestMultiple Choice

Pretest

Question 9 • English III

Which excerpt from Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter is the best evidence that the stranger in the marketplace wants to keep his true identity a secret?

Answer

There was a remarkable intelligence in his features, as of a person who had so cultivated his mental part that it could not fail to mould the physical to itself, and become manifest by unmistakable tokens.

When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips.

A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight.

By the Indian’s side, and evidently sustaining a companionship with him, stood a white man, clad in a strange disarray of civilized and savage costume.

Explanation

The strongest evidence is the moment when the stranger notices Hester recognizing him and puts a finger to his lips. That gesture tells her to remain silent about who he is, showing that he wants to keep his identity secret. Choice B describes this directly; the other excerpts describe his appearance or reaction without showing a request for secrecy.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

More from this Course

Pretest

Pretest

Pretest