It is a compound sentence, because this sentence consists of two independent clauses ('the lamp fell over' and '(the lamp) scared the cat"). Simple sentence would have only one independent clause.
In the phrase, Ladies, gentlewomen, and other inferior women, but not less worthy, the word <em>inferior </em>refers to women of lower social class.
Answer:
C: to show that the speaker is hard of hearing.
Explanation:
(which is ironic.)
