Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

The ladies, who in vain had implored Gualtieri to see that Griselda remained in another room, or to lend her one of the dresses that had been hers, so that she would not cut such a sorry figure in front of his guests, took their seats at table and addressed themselves to the meal. All eyes were fixed upon the girl, and everyone said that Gualtieri had made a good exchange. But Griselda praised her as warmly as anyone present, speaking no less admiringly of her little brother.

Which option identifies an inference one could draw about the ladies based upon the information in the excerpt?

They place a high value on material possessions.
They have no respect for Gualtieri's wishes.
They think Gualtieri is wise to test his wife.
They pity both of the women in Gualtieri's life.

Answer 1

I think the answer is They place a high value on material possessions.

I think the characters in the story had associated material possession alongside with status. The people in the story wanted to see if Gualtieri's wife was able to meet the standard of their society. This is why they wanted the wife to wear Griselda's clothes to ensure that the respect that the people have on them will be extended to the wife

Answer 2

The best answer for this question would be:

They have no respect for Gualtieri's wishes.

It is evident in the excerpt that the people around him had no regards to his wishes. And that they wanted him to follow what was ordered to him for him to do.