Question 123·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is adapted from an 1854 letter written by naturalist Harriet Langley to her colleague Charles Fenwick.
When I arrived in the valley, I found its inhabitants far less preoccupied with the impending rail line than I had supposed. They listened politely while the engineer unfolded his blueprints, nodding in the practiced manner of those who have learned that nods cost nothing. Yet when he finished, they returned to their work with the same deliberate pace as before, as if schedules and steam whistles were curiosities for another species to contemplate. I do not suggest that they are hostile to the enterprise; rather, they regard it as one more storm predicted by distant barometers—worthy of commentary, perhaps, but hardly of umbrella.
Based on the passage, how does Langley mainly characterize the valley inhabitants’ attitude toward the proposed rail line?
For attitude or characterization questions, first underline the key descriptive phrases and actions that show how the speaker feels about the subject. Put that evidence into a brief summary in your own words (for example, "polite but unconcerned" or "worried and resistant"). Then eliminate any choices that directly contradict explicit statements (like "I do not suggest that they are hostile") or that add emotions or motives not mentioned in the passage. Choose the option that most closely paraphrases your summary, not one that simply sounds dramatic or fits a stereotype.
Hints
Focus on the key description of their concern
Look closely at the phrase "far less preoccupied with the impending rail line than I had supposed." What does that tell you about how much they actually care about the project?
Pay attention to their actions before and after the explanation
After the engineer finishes explaining the blueprints, what do the inhabitants do? Does their behavior change in any noticeable way?
Use the explicit contrast in the last sentence
Langley says, "I do not suggest that they are hostile to the enterprise; rather, they regard it as one more storm predicted by distant barometers." What two attitudes is she contrasting here, and which one does she say they actually have?
Match attitude, not just single words
When you look at the answer choices, ask: Do we see clear evidence in the passage for emotions like excitement, fear, or anxiety, or is the feeling more neutral? Choose the option that best fits the overall description.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks how Langley "mainly characterizes" the inhabitants’ attitude toward the rail line. That means you must:
- Focus on the overall attitude or tone she describes.
- Base your answer on specific phrases in the passage, not your own guesses about people in that time period.
Locate key description phrases in the passage
Look for where Langley directly describes the inhabitants and their reactions:
- "far less preoccupied with the impending rail line than I had supposed" → they are not very concerned.
- "They listened politely... nodding in the practiced manner of those who have learned that nods cost nothing" → they act politely, but the nods may not mean real interest.
- "when he finished, they returned to their work with the same deliberate pace as before" → the news does not change their behavior.
- "I do not suggest that they are hostile to the enterprise" → she clearly says they are not hostile.
- They regard it "as one more storm predicted by distant barometers—worthy of commentary, perhaps, but hardly of umbrella" → they see it as distant and not something they need to actively prepare for.
Summarize their attitude in your own words
Put those details together in a short summary before looking at the choices:
- They are less concerned than expected.
- They show surface politeness (listening, nodding) but then go back to work unchanged.
- They are neither excited nor afraid, and specifically not hostile.
- They treat the rail line like a distant, possible event that is interesting to talk about but not worth changing their behavior for. This adds up to a kind of polite but unconcerned / indifferent attitude.
Compare each answer choice to the passage and eliminate mismatches
Now test each option against that summary:
- A) Interesting novelty and enjoy discussing it: The passage does allow that it may be "worthy of commentary," but it emphasizes detachment and unchanged behavior, not genuine enjoyment or sustained interest.
- B) Quietly skeptical and suspect trouble: Langley suggests the nodding may be merely polite, but she does not describe suspicion or fear of negative consequences; she also explicitly says they are not hostile.
- C) Inevitable arrival and resignation: The "storm predicted by distant barometers" comparison suggests something distant and uncertain, not something they view as inevitable.
- D) Outward politeness but underlying indifference: This matches the polite listening and nodding, the unchanged behavior afterward, and the idea that the rail line is like a distant event not worth preparing for.
Therefore, the best answer is D) They react with outward politeness but underlying indifference toward the project.