excerpt from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. I was put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church. My early readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read), and the opinion of all his friends, that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his. My uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. I continued, however, at the grammar-school not quite one year, though in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be the head of it, and farther was removed into the next class above it, in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year.
Part A
What effect does the phrase “would learn his character" have on the meaning of this passage?
It implies that his uncle has an unusual personality.
It suggests that he is not talking about a real person.
It indicates he would train in his uncle's profession.
It proposes he will read his uncle's sermons.
Part B
How does the phrase “would learn his character" contribute to the passage’s tone?
It conveys amusement.
It reveals frustration.
It shows a feeling of disgust.
It creates a sense of regret.
My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. I was put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church. My early readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read), and the opinion of all his friends, that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his. My uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. I continued, however, at the grammar-school not quite one year, though in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be the head of it, and farther was removed into the next class above it, in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year.
Part A
What effect does the phrase “would learn his character" have on the meaning of this passage?
It implies that his uncle has an unusual personality.
It suggests that he is not talking about a real person.
It indicates he would train in his uncle's profession.
It proposes he will read his uncle's sermons.
Part B
How does the phrase “would learn his character" contribute to the passage’s tone?
It conveys amusement.
It reveals frustration.
It shows a feeling of disgust.
It creates a sense of regret.
