Nokea
As little as three years before her birth, few would have thought that the child born
Princess Alexandrina Victoria would eventually become Britain's longest reigning monarch,
Queen Victoria. She was born in 1819, the only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the
fourth son of King George III. Ahead of Edward were three brothers, two of whom became
king but none of whom produced a legitimate, surviving heir. King George's eldest son, who
was eventually crowned King George IV, secretly married a Catholic commoner, Maria
Fitzherbert, in 1783. The marriage was never officially recognized, and in 1795, George was
persuaded to marry a distant cousin, Caroline of Brunswick. The marriage was bitter, and
the two had only one daughter, Princess Charlotte Augusta. She was popular in England
where her eventual reign was welcomed, but in a tragic event that shocked the nation, the
princess and her stillborn son died in childbirth in 1817.
Realizing the precarious position of the British throne, the remaining sons of King
George III were motivated to marry and produce an heir. The first in line was Prince
Frederick, the Duke of York. Frederick married Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, but
the two had no children. After Prince Frederick was Prince William, the Duke of Clarence.
William married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, and they had two sickly daughters,
neither of whom survived infancy. Finally, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, threw his hat
into the ring with his marriage to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. The Duke of
Kent died less than a year after his daughter's birth, but the surviving Duchess of Kent was
not unaware of the future possibilities for her daughter. She took every precaution to
ensure that the young Princess Victoria was healthy and safe throughout her childhood.
Princess Victoria's uncle, William, succeeded his brother George IV to become King
William IV. The new king recognized his niece as his future heir, but he did not necessarily
trust her mother. As a result, he was determined to survive until Victoria's eighteenth
birthday to ensure that she could rule in her own right without the regency of the Duchess
of Kent. The king's fervent prayers were answered: he died June 20, 1837, less than one
month after Victoria turned eighteen. Though young and inexperienced, the young queen
recognized the importance of her position and determined to rule fairly and wisely. The
improbable princess who became queen ruled for more than sixty-three years, and her
reign is considered to be one of the most important in British history.
What is the author's likely purpose in writing this passage about Queen Victoria?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The author's purpose in writing this passage is to explain how small events in history led to an unlikely princess, Princess Alexandrina Victoria, becoming the queen of England. The passage discusses the family background of Queen Victoria and how a series of events, including the lack of legitimate heirs from King George III's sons, ultimately paved the way for her ascension to the throne. Choice A is incorrect because the passage is more focused on presenting historical events rather than persuading readers to appreciate Queen Victoria's accomplishments. Choice B is also incorrect as the passage does mention the Victorian Era but is primarily centered around Queen Victoria's personal journey to the throne. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does briefly mention King George III's sons, but it does not primarily focus on their role in changing the history of England.