Read this excerpt from chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter using comprehension strategies.

But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.

What is the meaning of this excerpt?
Puritans plant a rosebush near the prison to comfort criminals.
The rosebush is more beautiful and fragile than anything else near the prison.
The rosebush is nature’s offering to those who must enter or leave the prison.
Puritans believe that criminals deserve a view of beauty from their cells.

Which passage from the story best shows the author's use of surprise to advance the story? a. i'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what i think, tell him everything i would, let him know just what i feel b. "oh, god", he thought, "what a strenuous career it is that i've chosen! travelling day in and day out." c. and he looked over at the alarm clock, ticking on the chest of drawers. "god in heaven! " he thought. it was half past six and the hands were quietly moving forwards, it was even later than half past, more like quarter to seven. d. one morning, when gregor samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. submit

Read the thesis statement below and answer the question that follows. the life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent in many different areas. how can this thesis statement be improved?

Read the excerpt from julius caesar, act 1, scene 1. marullus. wherefore rejoice? what conquest brings he home? what tributaries follow him to rome to grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? you blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless35 things! o, you hard hearts, you cruel men of rome, knew you not pompey? many a time and oft have you climbed up to walls and battlements, to towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, your infants in your arms, and there have sat40 the livelong day, with patient expectation, to see great pompey pass the streets of rome. which summary of the passage is the best? marullus asks a lot of questions, such as, “why celebrate? what has caesar done? who is following him to rome? don’t you remember pompey? ” then he says that everyone is cruel because they do not remember pompey. they forget how they praised him and would climb to the highest places, carrying their children, just to catch a glimpse of him. marullus regrets that the people are celebrating caesar and is insulted that they forgot how they used to praise pompey. marullus thinks that the people should celebrate caesar the way they used to celebrate pompey, and that they should be in awe of caesar’s greatness. marullus remembers how the people climbed walls, battlements, towers, windows, and even chimney tops to see the great pompey.