Analyzing Rhetoric

In his speech, Patrick Henry asserts that _____ is inevitable.

• war

• reconciliation

• peace

• submission

In Common Sense, what does Thomas Paine say in response to the argument that the colonies have done well under the control of Britain?

• That believing the colonies will continue to do well is logical

• That the colonies have not done well and will never do well

• That believing the colonies will continue to do well is misleading

• That the colonies have done well, but will not do well on their own

What is one reason that Thomas Paine thinks the colonies stand a good chance against the British?

• The British do not care that much about the colonies and will give up easily.

• The British army and navy are mostly made up of middle-aged men.

• The colonies have the resources to build a great navy.

• The colonies will have the American Indians fighting for them.

What is one reason Thomas Paine believes that the youth of the colonies is an advantage against Britain?

• Because younger nations always take over older nations

• Because Britain's age has made its citizens jaded

• Because older nations like Britain have less to lose

• Because their youth lends itself to vigor and unity

Read this sentence from Common Sense:

The more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture.

What rhetorical strategy is Thomas Paine most clearly using in this line?

• Personification

• Parallelism

• Credibility

• Ethos

Read this line from Patrick Henry's speech:

We have petitioned – we have remonstrated – we have supplicated – we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.

What is the primary emotion he appeals to here?

• Hope

• Excitement

• Frustration

• Guilt

What is one reason that Thomas Paine brings up the opposing argument that the colonies have done well under British control?

• To create parallelism by showing how both sides are similar

• To show the opposition that they agree on some things

• To give the opponents a chance to explain their arguments

• To create an opportunity to disprove the argument

Read this excerpt from Common Sense:

No country on the globe is so happily situated, or so internally capable of raising a fleet as America. Tar, timber, iron, and cordage are her natural produce. We need go abroad for nothing.

Which words or phrases from this passage best demonstrate logos?

• happily, internally

• no country

• tar, timber, iron, cordage

• fleet, America

Read this sentence from Patrick Henry's speech:

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.

What appeal does he primarily use here?

• pathos

• ethos

• simile

• parallelism

Read this excerpt from Common Sense:

The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak.

What kind of figurative language does Thomas Paine use here?

• simile

• diction

• personification

• ethos