Question

the horse mentioned in the passage was described by an acquaintance of mrs. wingfield as:
a. abandoned by its previous owners.
b. notorious for its vicious temper.
c. a beast both intelligent and handsome.
d. a docile and gentle creature.

the author seems to attribute vincent’s eventual rise in the ranks of the cavalry primarily to:
f. having been born into a long line of accomplished cavalrymen.
g. possessing an innate ability to sense a horse’s every move before it is made.
h. an employee of his family who had the confidence to task him with a difficult horse.
j. long hours of exercising the family horses on the estate with his father.

1. according to jonas, as he is presented in the passage, purchasing a weak - willed horse for vincent to train would have most likely resulted in:

a. jonas losing his position as caretaker because the purchase would have upset mrs. wingfield.
b. an increase in admiration shown to him by the cavalrymen of virginia and their wives.
c. vincent’s abilities going unnoticed because the horse would not have provided a challenge.
d. therapeutic exercise to relieve vincent of the stress caused by not meeting his father’s expectations.

Explanation:

To solve these reading comprehension questions, we analyze each one:

First Question (Horse Description)

We need to recall how the horse was described by Mrs. Wingfield’s acquaintance.

• Option A: No info about abandonment. Eliminate.
• Option B: “Vicious temper” contradicts typical positive/neutral descriptions (if context implies the horse was good). Eliminate.
• Option C: If the passage describes the horse as intelligent and handsome (a “beast” here as a term for the horse, not negative), this fits.
• Option D: “Docile and gentle” may not match if the horse was challenging (since Vincent trained it, a docile horse would not need training). Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is C. a beast both intelligent and handsome.

Second Question (Vincent’s Rise in Ranks)

We analyze why Vincent rose in the cavalry ranks.

• Option F: No mention of a family line of cavalrymen. Eliminate.
• Option G: “Innate ability to sense a horse’s move” is not linked to his rank rise. Eliminate.
• Option H: An employee tasking him with a difficult horse—training a difficult horse would showcase his skills, leading to recognition and rank rise. This fits.
• Option J: Exercising family horses with his father does not explain professional rank rise. Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is H. an employee of his family who had the confidence to task him with a difficult horse.

Third Question (Weak - willed Horse Outcome)

We consider Jonas’ view on buying a weak - willed horse for Vincent.

• Option A: No info about Jonas losing his position. Eliminate.
• Option B: A weak - willed horse would not impress cavalrymen (they value skilled training of challenging horses). Eliminate.
• Option C: A weak - willed horse provides no challenge, so Vincent’s abilities (to train difficult horses) would go unnoticed. This fits.
• Option D: The horse is for training, not therapy. Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is C. Vincent’s abilities going unnoticed because the horse would not have provided a challenge.

Final Answers

1. C. a beast both intelligent and handsome
2. H. an employee of his family who had the confidence to task him with a difficult horse
3. C. Vincent’s abilities going unnoticed because the horse would not have provided a challenge

Answer:

To solve these reading comprehension questions, we analyze each one:

First Question (Horse Description)

We need to recall how the horse was described by Mrs. Wingfield’s acquaintance.

• Option A: No info about abandonment. Eliminate.
• Option B: “Vicious temper” contradicts typical positive/neutral descriptions (if context implies the horse was good). Eliminate.
• Option C: If the passage describes the horse as intelligent and handsome (a “beast” here as a term for the horse, not negative), this fits.
• Option D: “Docile and gentle” may not match if the horse was challenging (since Vincent trained it, a docile horse would not need training). Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is C. a beast both intelligent and handsome.

Second Question (Vincent’s Rise in Ranks)

We analyze why Vincent rose in the cavalry ranks.

• Option F: No mention of a family line of cavalrymen. Eliminate.
• Option G: “Innate ability to sense a horse’s move” is not linked to his rank rise. Eliminate.
• Option H: An employee tasking him with a difficult horse—training a difficult horse would showcase his skills, leading to recognition and rank rise. This fits.
• Option J: Exercising family horses with his father does not explain professional rank rise. Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is H. an employee of his family who had the confidence to task him with a difficult horse.

Third Question (Weak - willed Horse Outcome)

We consider Jonas’ view on buying a weak - willed horse for Vincent.

• Option A: No info about Jonas losing his position. Eliminate.
• Option B: A weak - willed horse would not impress cavalrymen (they value skilled training of challenging horses). Eliminate.
• Option C: A weak - willed horse provides no challenge, so Vincent’s abilities (to train difficult horses) would go unnoticed. This fits.
• Option D: The horse is for training, not therapy. Eliminate.

Thus, the answer is C. Vincent’s abilities going unnoticed because the horse would not have provided a challenge.

Final Answers

1. C. a beast both intelligent and handsome
2. H. an employee of his family who had the confidence to task him with a difficult horse
3. C. Vincent’s abilities going unnoticed because the horse would not have provided a challenge