Which of the following inferences is best supported by the author’s description of Thomas Putnam in paragraphs 72-76?
Thomas Putnam was the eldest son of the richest man in the village. He had
fought the Indians at Narragansett, and was deeply interested in parish affairs.
He undoubtedly felt it poor payment that the village should so blatantly
disregard his candi-date for one of its more important offices, especially since
he regarded himself as the intellectual superior of most of the people around
him.
His vindictive nature was demonstrated long before the witch-craft began.
Another former Salem minister, George Burroughs, had had to borrow money
to pay for his wife’s funeral, and, since the parish was remiss in his salary, he
was soon bankrupt. Thomas and his brother John had Burroughs jailed for debts
the man did not owe. The incident is important only in that Burroughs
succeeded in becoming minister where Bayley,
Thomas Putnam’s brother-in-law, had been rejected; the motif of resentment is
clear here. Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and the honor of his family
had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he
could.Another reason to believe him a deeply embittered man was his attempt to
break his father’s will, which left a dispropor-tionate amount to a stepbrother.
As with every other public cause in which he tried to force his way, he failed in
this.
So it is not surprising to find that so many accusations against people are in
the handwriting of Thomas Putnam, or that his name is so often found as a
witness corroborating the super-natural testimony, or that his daughter led the
crying-out at the most opportune junctures of the trials, especially when - But
we’ll speak of that when we come to it.
a
He is more likely to make accusations of witchcraft because he feels he has been wronged in the past.
b
He is distrustful of his wife because he does not think she should be dealing with Tituba.
c
There is suspicion around him because so many of his babies have died.
d
He believes that a doctor should be called to check on Ruth and Betty, not another reverend.
Question 10 (1 point)
Which sentence from the excerpt best supports the answer to Question 9?
a
“Thomas Putnam was the eldest son of the richest man in the village. He had fought the Indians at Narragansett, and was deeply interested in parish affairs.”
b
“‘Reverend Parris, I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the earth.’”
c
“Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and the honor of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could.”
d
“‘There is a murdering witch among us, bound to keep herself in the dark.’”
