pride and prejudice by jane austen
elizabeth is one of the daughters in the bennet family. when her father dies, the family home and inheritance will pass to mr. collins, a cousin, who is currently visiting the bennet family. mr. collins wants to ensure that the bennet family likes him. “elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. she had fully proposed being engaged by mr. wickham for those very dances; and to have mr. collins instead! her liveliness had never been worse timed. there was no for it, however. mr. wickham’s happiness and her own were perforce delayed a little longer, and mr. collins’s proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. she was not the better with his gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more. it now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of hunsford parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. the idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to her. elizabeth, however, did not choose to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. mr. collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.”
which statement best summarizes the central idea of the passage? [rl.8.2]
a. elizabeth is confused when mr. collins is complimentary to her and her family.
b. elizabeth thinks that she is foolish because she is engaged to mr. wickham.
c. elizabeth wants to dance with mr. collins and is disappointed when he
does not ask.
d. elizabeth does not want to marry mr. collins, although her family
supports the match.