Patrick Henry Practice Quiz

Full Name

The main purpose of Henry’s speech is to ____

• convince the colonists that Britain will not fight.
• maintain peace in America at all costs.
• persuade the colonists to enter into war against Britain.
• persuade his audience that Henry would make a good president.

The purpose of the opening paragraph is to do all of the following EXCEPT

• Establish ethos
• Demonstrate Henry’s respect for those whose opinions he is about to rebut
• Establish that Henry is more educated and religious than his opponents
• Emphasize how important Henry considers the issue he is about to address

Henry says, “Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on.” What is the “storm” that Henry predicts is approaching?

• an argument during the Convention
• a hurricane from the south
• the wrath of God
• the war with Britain

In the fourth paragraph, Henry’s primary appeal is an appeal to

• fear
• history
• loyalty
• pride

Which of these remarks BEST uses logical arguments to appeal to reason?

• “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?”
• “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!”
• “The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!”
• “I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?”

The second and third paragraphs contain examples of all of the following EXCEPT

• Simile
• Biblical allusion
• Metaphor
• Mythological allusion

In which of these statements does Henry use anaphora?

• “Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.”
• “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated.”
• “Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?”
• “Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?”

Henry uses logos throughout the speech to convince his readers that

• chains and slavery will be the result of continued inaction by the colonies.
• the war is inevitable and the colonies must fight.
• the past conduct of the British government proves that England has no intention of granting the colonies’ petitions.
• death would be better than a forced loss of colonial liberty.

In which of these sentences does Henry appeal to pathos in order to persuade his audience that the time for action is at hand?

• “But different men often see the same subject in different lights.”
• “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?”
• “And in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate.”
• “I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.”