Question 96·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is from an 1878 letter by Eleanor Whitcombe to her friend Marianne.
My brother Nathaniel emerges each morning from his workshop with soot around his eyes and a smile that fairly glows through the grime. He insists that the engine he is perfecting—an apparatus so compact it could fit beneath a carriage seat—will liberate travelers from the tyranny of timetables, for they will need neither horse nor scheduled train. I listen, marveling at the steady fervor in his voice, yet I cannot altogether silence another voice, less hopeful, whispering that the world holds tight to the familiar with both hands. Manufacturers court investors only for machines of proven profit; gentlemen still measure status by the number of hooves in their stables. Nathaniel hears these objections and laughs, saying that resistance precedes every transformation worth the name. Perhaps he is right; perhaps, decades hence, children will learn his name in their schoolbooks. For the moment, however, I suspect the soot will cling to him longer than any laurel.
Which choice best describes Eleanor’s assessment of Nathaniel’s invention?
For central-idea and inference questions about a character’s assessment, first isolate the sentences where that character directly comments or reflects (often near the end of the passage). Note whether their tone is positive, negative, or mixed, and watch for time cues like “for the moment” or “in the future,” which often separate short-term doubts from long-term hopes. Then eliminate choices that are too extreme or that contradict specific lines in the text, and choose the option that best matches both the tone and the time frame implied by the passage.
Hints
Locate Eleanor’s personal opinion
Ignore Nathaniel’s enthusiasm for a moment and focus on the sentences where Eleanor describes how she feels about his engine and how the world responds to new inventions.
Pay attention to time words and contrasts
Look closely at phrases like “decades hence” and “for the moment, however.” What do these suggest about her expectations for the future versus the present?
Check tone: admiration vs. doubt
Notice words like “marveling” (positive) and “less hopeful” plus the idea that “the world holds tight to the familiar.” Does she completely reject the invention, fully believe it will succeed immediately, or something in between?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks what the text most strongly suggests about Eleanor’s assessment of Nathaniel’s invention. That means we need to infer her overall opinion from the details: is she optimistic, doubtful, or mixed, and about what time frame (now vs. future)?
Find where Eleanor directly reacts to the invention
Look for lines where Eleanor expresses her own thoughts and feelings, not just Nathaniel’s claims.
Key parts:
- “I listen, marveling at the steady fervor in his voice…” – shows admiration.
- “…yet I cannot altogether silence another voice, less hopeful, whispering that the world holds tight to the familiar with both hands.” – she doubts how ready the world is.
- “Manufacturers court investors only for machines of proven profit; gentlemen still measure status by the number of hooves in their stables.” – she thinks society is conservative and slow to change.
Notice the contrast between future and present
Focus on the last few sentences:
- “Perhaps he is right; perhaps, decades hence, children will learn his name in their schoolbooks.” – Eleanor can imagine him being famous in the future, suggesting real long-term potential.
- “For the moment, however, I suspect the soot will cling to him longer than any laurel.” – she expects hard work and delayed recognition now.
So her view is mixed: possible future transformation, but slow acceptance in the present.
Match this mixed, time-based view to the answer choices
Compare that understanding to the choices:
- Choices claiming the invention won’t change travel broadly, won’t work, or will win broad support soon all conflict with Eleanor’s blend of long-term possibility (“decades hence”) and short-term doubt (“for the moment, however”).
- The remaining choice best matches her belief in potential long-term impact paired with skepticism about immediate acceptance.
Therefore, the correct answer is: “She believes his design could eventually revolutionize travel, but doubts it will receive immediate acceptance.”