A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift MCQ

The speaker of this proposal appeals to each of the following values EXCEPT:

• Pity

• Economy

• Avarice

• Pragmatism

Read following sentence:

"As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation."

The wording “schemes of our projectors” is best interpreted to mean:

• Policies mandated by dictators

• Grossly miscalculated statistics

• Misguided suggestions of the populace

• Strategies contrived by the state

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The speaker employs each of the following to support his argument EXCEPT:

• Statistical data

• References to authority

• Professional tone

• Self-interest

The speaker lists each of the following as an advantage of his proposal EXCEPT:

• It would reduce burden in the parents’ household

• It would subsidize the feeding and clothing of many households

• It would reduce the occurrence of voluntary abortions

• It would contribute to a more equitable distribution of resources

The tone of the speaker might be best described as:

• Condescending and indifferent

• Reasoned and objective

• Ironic and satiric

• Illogical and arrogant

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Read the following passage:

"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or broiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout."

The phrase, “whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled” serves the purpose of:

• Implying that the Irish are already treated like the English

• Alluding to the preparation of potatoes in the great potato famine

• Offering a culinary qualification for cooks and chefs

• Softening the bluntness of the proposal through a mock qualification

Which of the following is most effective in assuaging feelings of disgust for readers?

• The technical aspect of the facts and figures

• The speaker’s avoidance of the grotesque

• The blunt candor of the proposal

• The ironic stance of the writer

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The speaker’s rhetorical method in the passage involves a movement from:

• Melancholy description to optimistic outlook

• Uneasy perspective to manipulative motive

• Reasoned deliberation to eager anticipation

• Outraged disgust to pensive reflection

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which of the following best summarizes the problem the author sees in his society?

• There are not enough jobs for the women to work and provide for their families.
• Too many men are abandoning their families, leaving them in poverty.
• Children are not receiving proper educations from the government.
• Poverty and starvation are increasingly plaguing the streets.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of the author's scheme?

• There will be fewer numbers of poor people and "papists."
• Poor people will finally have something of value.
• The nation can expect growth in its overall economy.
• People will be less likely to marry and have so many children.