MCAP Grade 10 ELA Practice Questions - Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program English Language Arts - Grade 10 Exam

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Read the excerpt from Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter': 'Hester Prynne stood upon the scaffold, holding the infant to her breast. The crowd stared up at her with stern, unyielding eyes, expecting tears of remorse or a cry of weakness. Instead, she drew herself up with a quiet, majestic dignity, her gaze traversing the solemn assembly without flinching.' How does Hawthorne's choice of the words 'majestic dignity' and 'without flinching' shape the reader's perception of Hester?

It presents her as defiant and reckless, unconcerned with the moral consequences of her actions. It elevates her above the harsh hostility of the crowd, framing her resilience as heroic rather than broken. It suggests that she is indifferent to her child's well-being in her quest for public attention. It portrays her as arrogant and contemptuous toward the traditional values of her community.

Correct Answer:

It elevates her above the harsh hostility of the crowd, framing her resilience as heroic rather than broken.

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