Question

read the excerpt from jane eyre by charlotte brontë. the said eliza, john, and georgiana were now clustered round their mama mrs. reed in the drawing - room: she lay reclined on a sofa by the fireside, and with her darlings about her (for the time neither quarrelling nor crying) looked perfectly happy. me, she had dispensed from joining the group, saying, ... ... until she heard from bessie, and could discover by her own observation, that i was endeavouring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner—something lighter, franker, more natural, as a means—she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children. what is revealed by juxtaposing mrs. reed’s treatment of her children with her treatment of jane?
options:

• mrs. reed is hypocritical and biased.
• mrs. reed is uncomfortable around children.
• mrs. reed is unconventional and lazy.
• mrs. reed thinks children should be well behaved.

Explanation:

From the text, Mrs. Reed's treatment of Jane vs. her own children shows a double standard. She is kind to her kids (chatting, being friendly) but Jane is excluded ("she really must exclude me from children"). This reveals hypocrisy (pretending to be just but acting biased) and being biased toward her own children. The first option matches this as it says she is hypocritical and biased.

Answer:

A. Mrs. Reed is hypocritical and biased.