Question

Although women had few rights, the mother who bore Shakespeare was a rich heiress. What does the phrase 'bore Shakespeare' mean?

1) to weary others by being dull
2) the hollow part of a pipe
3) to drill a hole
4) gave birth to

Answer 1

The phrase 'bore Shakespeare' refers to Shakespeare's mother giving birth to him.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase 'bore Shakespeare' means gave birth to Shakespeare. Therefore, the correct answer is option 4. In the context of the question, it is used to describe the act of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, giving birth to the renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Despite women having limited rights during that period, Mary Arden was notable for being a wealthy heiress, which is highlighted to contrast with the common status of women at the time.