Multiple Choice 1 Brown's Rebellion

The main idea of this passage is best described as:

• Citizens have a duty to protect their property and defend the Constitution.

• Not every brave decision will also be a popular one.

• The Vigilant Committee becomes necessary when government fails to act.

• When the cause is righteous, the means are justified and even noble, even if it requires violence.

• John Brown should be pardoned and regarded as a hero, because he knows what it means to truly live.

From lines 3-7, it is possible to infer which of the following conclusions?

• Thoreau thinks that the public should regard the government as their clerk, to assist them in their goals.

• Thoreau accuses the government of neglecting its duties of providing security and ensuring fair treatment.

• Thoreau is fearful of a harsh political response to his argument and wants to justify his argument.

• Thoreau feels it is well past time for the government to take action and put an end to slavery

• Thoreau believes in a story centralized government and is disappointed by the current administration.

In the first paragraph, Thoreau makes us of all the following devices EXCEPT:

• Paradox

• Simile

• Comparison

• Rhetorical questions

• Figurative language

Thoreau most likely intends the following metaphor to suggest which of these answer choices?

"When I hear it at work sometimes, I go by, it reminds me, at best, of those farmers who in winter contrive to turn a penny by following the coopering business. And what kind of spirit is their barrel made to hold? They speculate in stocks, and bore holes in mountains, but they are not competent to lay out even a decent highway."

• Governments aren't designed to be versatile, but should instead get very good at a specific array of tasks, the way responsible farmers are.

• Farmers should focus on their main livelihood and not attempt other infrastructure improvements, instead leaving that to the government.

• The government should focus on public words and not on agricultural concerns.

• A farmer who picks up other trades in winter may lose sight of what he is supposed t do well; government is guilty of the same error.

• The government, like an industrious farmer, is wisely finding work to do in its offseason but may find itself overextended.

The first paragraph of the passage undermines the public's faith in the efficiency and performance of government in order to:

• call for the resignation of current political leaders

• motivate his listeners to run for office

• validate John Brown's decision to start an insurrection

• promote Thoreau's candidacy for President

• expose corruption in the nation's civil servants.

Throughout the passage, Thoreau builds his credibility in the eyes of his listeners by doing which of the following?

• Inviting others to join him at the conclusion of his speech.

• Decrying Brown's methods, if not his motives.

• Citing his personal experience as a life-long abolitionist.

• Declaring himself morally superior.

• Positioning himself alongside the listener.

What narrative is Thoreau attempting to counter in his second paragraph?

• Brown's rebellion was just an ineffective bunch of stragglers.

• Brown's rebellion was ill-advised because it was so dangerous.

• Brown's rebellion was noble and necessary but his motives were misunderstood.

• Brown's rebellion needed to have been undertaken by fewer people in order to be meaningful.

• Brown's rebellion didn't deserve any attention because of its illegal nature.

The phrase "summering and wintering the thought" (lines 41-42) is an example of:

• hyperbole

• allusion

• verbification

• irony

• narration

The sentence "I shall not be forward to think him mistaken in his method who quickest succeeds to liberate the slave" (lines 55-56) most nearly means:

• Thoreau might disagree with Brown's methods but doesn't want to be the first to say so.

• Thoreau agrees that the ends justify the means and won't judge Brown's strategy.

• Thoreau thinks it's fair to acknowledge John Brown was overly hasty in his choices of tactics.

• Thoreau isn't ready to rush to judgment even though he thinks Brown was a hero.

• Thoreau wishes he had been able to advise Brown prior to the rebellion.

The word "deliquesce" (line 91) in context most nearly means to:

• solidify

• grow

• crumble

• dissolve

• decay