In the passage on letter writing, the example of Carlyle shows his mother sitting at a table and trying to write a small word to Alec with her own hand, for the first time in a year. Based on this description, which statement best describes Carlyle mother as a letter writer?

Introduction / Context:
In the passage about good letter writing, the writer uses an example from Carlyle, who writes to his brother Alec and describes their mother. He mentions that she is sitting at another table, trying to write a small word with her own hand, and that it is the first time she has attempted such a thing for a year. The question asks us to infer what this tells us about her habits and confidence as a letter writer.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The mother is described as trying to write a small word with her own hand.
• Carlyle notes that this is the first time she has tried this for a year.
• The effort is presented as something special and touching, not as a routine activity.
• The passage overall values small personal gestures in letters.
• The mother is elderly and lives in a rural household, which may make writing physically or educationally difficult.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is inference from detail. The mother does not seem to write letters often, and this particular effort is highlighted as unusual and significant. The words trying and first time in a year suggest both difficulty and rarity. Therefore, we should choose an option that reflects that she is not a frequent or entirely comfortable letter writer, but that she cares enough to make the effort on this occasion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase first time she has tried such a thing for a year. This indicates a long gap since her last attempt. Step 2: Consider the verb trying, which suggests effort and possible lack of full confidence. Step 3: Reflect on why Carlyle mentions this detail. He wants Alec to feel the emotional weight of his mother making a rare and difficult effort. Step 4: Compare this understanding with the answer options and eliminate those that describe frequent or constant writing. Step 5: Select the option that correctly states that she is not regular or confident in letter writing and writes rarely.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, ask whether the passage would make sense if the mother wrote letters all the time. In that case, the phrase first time in a year would not be needed. The emotional effect on Alec as he reads about his mother last message would also be weaker. Therefore, the description clearly emphasises that this act of writing is unusual and hence more moving.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A claims she was a regular writer who wrote frequently. This contradicts the explicit statement that she has not tried it for a year.
• Option C says she was always eager to write and did so every week, which again clashes with the long gap described.
• Option D suggests she enjoyed writing letters constantly, but nothing in the passage supports this picture of constant letter writing.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to assume that because someone is writing a letter in a sentimental passage, they must love writing letters in general. Another is to ignore time expressions such as first time in a year. Paying attention to these clues and to verbs like trying helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
From the description, we learn that Carlyle mother wrote rarely and made a special effort on this occasion, suggesting lack of regular practice or confidence. Thus, the best answer is She was not confident or regular at letter writing and wrote only rarely.