Supporting an Author's Claim

Based on information in “The Beginning of a Big Idea,” which sentence best describes Henry Ford?

• Ford’s obedience to the wishes of his parents influenced him in his work to improve efficiency for farmers.

• Ford’s friendly personality with others caused him to become popular with coworkers during his time as an apprentice.

• Ford’s early curiosity about engineering led him to pursue a career in the automotive industry.

• Ford’s patience in working with new technology allowed him to invent a new type of threshing machine.

What is the effect of the first person point of view in “The Beginning of a Big Idea”?

• The reader gains an objective understanding of Ford’s contributions to farmers.

• The reader gains a historical understanding of Ford’s influence on other inventors.

• The reader gains an intimate understanding of how most people felt about Ford as a neighbor.

• The reader gains a personal understanding of what inspired and motivated Ford as a person.

Which sentence from “Automobiles for the Masses” contains an opinion?

• “At the same time its obvious usefulness was an argument which overcame economy. . . .”

• “Already underpriced nearly a thousand dollars in comparison with other cars, they were to be sold still cheaper, Ford insisted.”

• “More men were added to the payroll, more machinery was installed, and still the orders came and the output could not keep up with them.”

• . “A small tract of land on Piquette Avenue was bought and Ford prepared to move . . .”

Read the sentence from “Automobiles for the Masses.”

“As a poor, hard-working mechanic, he had fought weariness and poverty and ridicule, to build his motor car; as an unknown inventor, still poor, he had struggled for a foothold in the business world and got it . . .” Why is the “plain folks” propaganda technique used in the sentence?

• to persuade the reader that Henry Ford thought himself unworthy of his status in society

• to persuade the reader that Henry Ford is admirable for his surprising achievements

• to persuade the reader that life in the past was simpler for people like Henry Ford

• to persuade the reader that others should pursue the same career as Henry Ford

In what way are the two passages most similar?

• Each presents Ford as someone who strongly disagreed with the way American businesses were run.

• Each describes how Ford drew on existing ideas to create his own original products and systems.

• Each focuses on the events that eventually led Ford to develop the four-cylinder car.

• Each provides details about the hardships Ford had to overcome on his path to fame.

What is true of how both passages portray Ford’s character?

• Both passages depict him as a stubborn person in refusing to give up despite his hardships.

• Both present him as someone who held steadfast to the norms of manufacturers during the time period to achieve his success.

• Both interpret his resourcefulness in reconstructing a gas engine and living frugally as a large part of who he is.

• Both depict multiple character flaws, including stubbornness and nonconformity as parts of himself that he was to overcome.

Both passages relay information about Henry Ford’s career as an automobile manufacturer. Write a paragraph analyzing how Henry Ford’s industriousness helped him to become successful in this career. Use evidence from both passages to support your response.