by Jane Austen (excerpt)

In this excerpt from Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet arrives at the country home of the Bingleys where her sister Jane, a guest of the Bingleys has fallen ill. After Elizabeth leaves the dining room, her hosts and Mr. Darcy begin talking about her.

(1) When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began [criticizing] her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence1; she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added,

(2) "She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."

(3) "She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance2 . Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering3 about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!4 "

(4) "Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it, not doing its office.5"

(5) "Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."

(6) "You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."

(7) "Certainly not."

(8) "To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles [ankles] in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to shew [show] an abominable6 sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum.7"

(9) "It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley . . .

(10) "I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it."

(11) "I think I have heard you say, that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton."

(12) "Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside. . . ."

(13) "If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it would not make them one jot less agreeable."

(14) "But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy.

(15) To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth8 for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar9 relations.

(16) On entering the drawing-room [Elizabeth] found the whole party at loo10, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high11 she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

(17) "Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular."

(18) "Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else."

(19) "I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,12" cried Elizabeth; "I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."

(20) "In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well."

(21) Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards a table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others; all that his library afforded.

(22) "And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever look into."

(23) Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.

___________________

1rudeness

2facial expression

3running quickly and excitedly

4messy

5job

6unpleasant or bad

7good taste

8joy or amusement

9unsophisticated, unrefined

10playing a popular card game of the period

11in a cruel mood

12disapproval

1
Select the correct answer.
Which of the following is a theme of the passage?

A.
People often form opinions of others based on their own backgrounds.
B.
Visiting a sick family member is always the right thing to do.
C.
It is dangerous to walk a long distance without a companion.
D.
People should make themselves presentable when visiting others.