Question 3

The late king had been a handsome and admirable person.

The passage does not provide any direct evidence regarding the physical appearance or admirable qualities of the late king, but it implies a level of respect and admiration that could suggest he was indeed a noteworthy figure. This aligns with Option B being the most clearly supported inference.

A) The late king's brother had always envied the late king.

There is no information provided in the passage that indicates any feelings of envy from the late king's brother towards him. The focus of the extract is on the journey and the accompanying characters, making this option unsupported.

B) The late king had been a handsome and admirable person.

While the passage does not explicitly describe the late king’s attributes, the context suggests that he was respected and worthy of admiration. Thus, this inference is supported by the tone and implications of the text, making it the most fitting choice.

C) The queen immediately regretted her marriage to her deceased husband's brother.

The passage does not mention the queen's feelings regarding her marriage or any regrets she may have had. This lack of context makes Option C unsupported and irrelevant to the information given.

D) The queen had always been fond of her late husband's brother.

There is no indication in the passage about the queen's feelings towards her late husband's brother. The dynamics of their relationship are not explored in the extract, making this inference unsupported.

Conclusion

Option B is the only inference that can be reasonably drawn from the text, as it reflects the underlying respect for the late king. The other options either lack supportive evidence or are not relevant to the content presented in the passage. Therefore, B stands out as the most clearly supported inference.