Quiz on A Modest Proposal

What is the primary purpose of Swift’s proposal to sell children as food in A Modest Proposal?

• To promote a real solution to Ireland's poverty.

• To use absurdity and irony to criticize British exploitation of the Irish poor.

How does Swift’s tone in A Modest Proposal enhance its satirical message?

• It presents the proposal seriously, which makes it seem reasonable.

• It presents the proposal seriously, making the absurdity of the idea more shocking.

Which technique does Swift use in A Modest Proposal to draw attention to the injustice of British policies?

• Sarcasm, by mocking the Irish poor for being lazy.

• Irony, by suggesting an extreme solution to highlight the real problem of poverty.

In A Modest Proposal, Swift suggests that selling children would do all of the following except:

• Reduce the number of poor people.

• Increase Ireland’s national debt.

What is Swift’s target audience in A Modest Proposal?

• The impoverished Irish peasantry.

• The British elite and wealthy landowners.

How does Swift use the idea of “cooking and eating children” in his proposal?

• To suggest a viable solution to overpopulation.

• To satirize how the poor are dehumanized and treated as commodities.

What role does the logical, economic analysis play in Swift’s proposal?

• It presents a compelling case for the proposal’s practicality.

• It creates a cold, detached tone that highlights the absurdity of the idea.

Which of the following best describes Swift’s view on the British response to Irish poverty in A Modest Proposal?

• Swift believes the British are genuinely concerned and trying to help.

• Swift uses the proposal to mock the British for being indifferent to Irish suffering.

What is Swift’s main criticism of the wealthy landowners in Ireland?

• They are too generous and spend too much on charity.

• They exploit the Irish poor without concern for their well-being.

How does Swift’s use of hyperbole in A Modest Proposal affect the reader?

• It makes the proposal seem less extreme and more acceptable.

• It highlights the absurdity and criticizes the lack of genuine solutions.