Question

read the passage.
phillis wheatley was a significant figure in colonial america. she was kidnapped from africa, brought to america, and enslaved. although literacy was extremely rare for a woman and especially for an enslaved person, wheatley learned to read and write. her poetry celebrated political figures and was published while she was still enslaved.
what is the effect of the adjectival phrase \extremely rare\ in this passage?
○ it limits the adjective rare.
○ it intensifies the adjective rare.
○ it gives more details about the noun woman.
○ it gives more details about the verb read.

Explanation:

To determine the effect of "extremely rare", we analyze each option:

• Option 1: "Limits" is incorrect. "Extremely" doesn't restrict "rare" but adds intensity.
• Option 2: "Extremely" is an adverb (in the adjectival phrase) that modifies "rare", making the rarity more intense. This fits.
• Option 3: The phrase describes "literacy", not "woman", so this is wrong.
• Option 4: The phrase relates to "literacy" (a noun), not the verb "read", so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. It intensifies the adjective rare.