Question
Read the excerpt from "Elizabeth Blackwell."
The next day Elizabeth visited an old family friend who had been practicing medicine for many years. When she told him of her intentions, Dr. Melton’s eyebrows nearly took leave of his head, but he quickly settled himself and said, "Well, that is a brilliant idea, Miss Blackwell, but clearly it is an impossible one."
Based on this excerpt, what can readers infer about women's careers during the mid-1800s?
Women were not permitted to work in any career of their choice.
Women were not permitted to work with men unless they were family friends.
Women had to practice medicine for more years than men had to practice.
Women had to settle for careers as nurses instead of doctors.
The next day Elizabeth visited an old family friend who had been practicing medicine for many years. When she told him of her intentions, Dr. Melton’s eyebrows nearly took leave of his head, but he quickly settled himself and said, "Well, that is a brilliant idea, Miss Blackwell, but clearly it is an impossible one."
Based on this excerpt, what can readers infer about women's careers during the mid-1800s?
Women were not permitted to work in any career of their choice.
Women were not permitted to work with men unless they were family friends.
Women had to practice medicine for more years than men had to practice.
Women had to settle for careers as nurses instead of doctors.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the excerpt, readers can infer that women faced significant barriers in pursuing careers, particularly in fields like medicine, during the mid-1800s. Dr. Melton's reaction suggests that while he acknowledges Elizabeth's ambition as a "brilliant idea," he also perceives it as "impossible" given the societal norms of the time. This indicates that women were generally not accepted or supported in pursuing careers such as doctors.
The best inference from the provided options is:
**Women had to settle for careers as nurses instead of doctors.**
This aligns with the historical context of that era, where women were often encouraged to take on supportive roles like nursing rather than seeking professional opportunities as doctors.
The best inference from the provided options is:
**Women had to settle for careers as nurses instead of doctors.**
This aligns with the historical context of that era, where women were often encouraged to take on supportive roles like nursing rather than seeking professional opportunities as doctors.