EngII Formative 2.8A
Some questions (c) 2012 by NWEA.
Page 2
GO ON
excerpted from Lady Eleanore’s Mantle
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
1
Not long after Colonel Shute had assumed the government of Massachusetts Bay, now nearly a
hundred and twenty years ago, a young lady of rank and fortune arrived from England, to claim his
protection as her guardian. He was her distant relative, but the nearest who had survived the gradual
extinction of her family, so that no more eligible shelter could be found for the rich and highborn Lady
Eleanore Rochcliffe than within that Province House of a transatlantic colony. The consort of Governor
Shute, moreover, had been as a mother to her childhood and was now anxious to receive her, in the hope
that a beautiful young woman would be exposed to infinitely less peril from the primitive society of New
England than amid the artifices and corruptions of a court. If either the Governor or his lady had especially
consulted their own comfort, they would probably have sought to devolve the responsibility on other hands;
since, with some noble and splendid traits of character, Lady Eleanore was remarkable for a harsh,
unyielding pride, a haughty consciousness of her hereditary and personal advantages, which made her
almost incapable of control . . .
2
The ship in which she came passenger had arrived at Newport, whence Lady Eleanore was conveyed
to Boston in the Governor’s coach, attended by a small escort of gentlemen on horseback. The ponderous
equipage, with its four black horses, attracted much notice as it rumbled through Cornhill, surrounded by the
prancing steeds of half a dozen cavaliers, with swords dangling to their stirrups and pistols at their holsters.
Through the large glass windows of the coach, as it rolled along, the people could discern the figure of Lady
Eleanore, strangely combining an almost queenly stateliness with the grace and beauty of a maiden in her
teens. A singular tale had gone abroad among the ladies of the province that their fair rival was indebted for
much of the irresistible charm of her appearance to a certain article of dress—an embroidered mantle—
which had been wrought by the most skillful artist in London, and possessed even magical properties of
adornment . . .
3
The coachman reined in his four black steeds, and the whole cavalcade came to a pause in front of the
contorted iron balustrade* that fenced the Province House from the public street. It was an awkward
coincidence that the bell of the Old South was just then tolling for a funeral; so that, instead of gladsome
peal with which it is customary to announce the arrival of distinguished strangers, Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe
was ushered by a doleful clang, as if calamity had come embodied in her beautiful person.
4
“A very great disrespect!” exclaimed Captain Langford, an English officer, who had recently brought
dispatches to Governor Shute. “The funeral should have been deferred, lest Lady Eleanore’s spirits be
affected by such a dismal welcome.”
Page 3
GO ON
5
“With your pardon, sir,” replied Doctor Clarke, a physician, and a famous champion of the popular
party, “whatever the heralds may pretend, a dead beggar must have precedence of a living queen.”
6
These remarks were interchanged while the speakers waited a passage through the crowd, which had
gathered on each side of the gateway, leaving an open avenue to the portal of the Province House.
*balustrade: a railing or banister
Public Domain
Page 4
GO ON
1
Read this excerpt from Paragraph
3
2 of the passage.
Why does Lady Eleanore come to
America?
A
A singular tale had gone abroad
She is coming to claim her
fortune.
among the ladies of the province that
their fair rival was indebted for much
of the irresistible charm of her
B
She has no family left in England.
C
She was invited to visit the
Governor.
appearance to a certain article of
dress—an embroidered mantle—which
D She is engaged to an American.
had been wrought by the most skillful
artist in London, and possessed even
magical properties of adornment . . .
This excerpt serves all of these
purposes except
4
Which of these choices provides
the strongest clue to the historical
A
to provide exposition.
era of this passage?
B
to convey a theme.
F
C
to enhance characterization.
D to foreshadow potential conflict.
the notion of a relative acting as a
guardian
G the reference to corruptions of the
English court
H the fact that a young noblewoman
is haughty
J
2
Lady Eleanore can be
the idea that a retired colonel is
the governor
characterized as all of the
following except
F
beautiful.
G controllable.
H proud.
J
wealthy.
Page 5
GO ON
5
What is not a characteristic of
7
Based on the description of Lady
Gothic fiction?
Eleanore in Paragraph 1, which
A
It contains dark symbols such as
universal characteristic is she
black horses and a funeral
most likely to possess?
procession.
A
insecurity
It associates a character with
B
arrogance
something evil and possibly
C
nonchalance
B
supernatural.
C
D cowardice
It deals with a family that is going
extinct and is set in the Old South.
D It has as its main character a rich,
proud, and independent woman.
8
What is the best evidence that
people in America are still under
English rule at the time of Lady
Eleanore’s arrival?
6
Doctor Clarke’s comment in
F
Paragraph 5 of the passage is
reflective of the era’s
F
by soldiers.
G An English officer brings dispatches
social rules.
G changing politics.
to the Governor.
H A woman with a royal title is of
H indifference for wealth.
J
respect for the government.
The Governor’s coach is protected
great interest to the public.
J
A woman of English royalty comes
to live in Massachusetts.
Page 6
BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS
ON YOUR ANSWER DOCUMENT
STOP