Question

nathanial parker willis wrote this remembrance of president lincoln’s son willie. from behind the scenes this little fellow had his acquaintances among his father’s friends, and i chanced to be one of them. he never failed to seek me out in the crowd, shake hands, and make some pleasant remark; and this, in a boy of ten years of age, was, to say the least, endearing to a stranger. but he had more than mere affectionateness. his self - possession—aplomb, as the french call it—was extraordinary. i was one day passing the white house, when he was outside with a play - fellow on the side - walk. secretary seward drove in, with prince napoleon and two of his suite in the carriage; and, in a mock - heroic way—terms of intimacy evidently existing between the boy and the secretary—the official gentleman took off his hat, and the napoleon did the same, all making the young prince president a ceremonious salute. not a bit staggered with the homage, willie drew himself up to his full height, took off his little cap with graceful self - possession, and bowed down formally to the ground, like a little ambassador. they drove past, and he went on unconcernedly with his play; the impromptu readiness and good judgment being clearly a part of his nature. his genial and open expression of countenance was none the less ingenuous and fearless for a certain tincture of fun; and it was in this mingling of qualities that he so faithfully resembled his father. (from behind the scenes by elizabeth keckley) which of the author’s claims about willie lincoln is most developed in this passage? 1. willie “never failed to... shake hands, and make pleasant remark.” 2. willie’s “self - possession... was extraordinary.” 3. willie had a “genial... expression of countenance. 4. willie’s “mingling of qualities... faithfully resembl that of his father.”

Explanation:

To determine the most developed claim, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage mentions Willie shaking hands but does not elaborate much beyond a brief description.
• Option 2: The passage includes a detailed anecdote (with Secretary Seward, Prince Napoleon) showing Willie's self - possession (e.g., not staggered by homage, acting with graceful self - possession). This claim has more supporting details.
• Option 3: The description of his countenance is relatively brief compared to the details about self - possession.
• Option 4: The resemblance to his father is a concluding point with less development than the self - possession claim.

Answer:

1. Willie’s “self - possession... was extraordinary.”