VBA 3 review

In paragraph 10 of Passage 1, what rhetorical appeal is used to influence Harry T. Burn’s decision to support women’s voting rights?

• a call to action for the people of East Tennessee

• a request for information about his mother’s friend

• a plea based on the relationship he has with his mother

• a challenge that considers the balance of right and wrong

Answer explanation

Although only implied by the passage, the letter from Burn’s mother appears to have swayed his decision in favor of suffrage by appealing to his emotions, which means he respected her opinion and valued his relationship with her.

Choose a piece of text evidence that supports that the letter from Passage 1 written to Henry T Burns is based on the relationship that he has with his mother.

• "Hurrah and vote for Suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt."

• “I noticed Chandler’s speech, it was very bitter.”

• “Don’t forget to be a good boy, and help Mrs. ‘Thomas Catt’ with her ‘Rats.’”

• “Is she the one that put rat in ratification, Ha!”

Answer explanation

The mother is evoking their mother-son relationship in this sentence with the phrase “good boy.”

In Passage 1, which sentence supports the argument that Burn was anxious about casting the deciding vote?

• “The son was Harry T. Burn, a 24-year-old representative from East Tennessee.” (paragraph 9)

• “Just two years earlier Burn had become the youngest to be elected to the state’s legislature.” (paragraph 9)

• “I’ve been waiting to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet.” (paragraph 10)

• "Burn had hoped the issue wouldn’t rest with him—he supported suffrage himself, but his constituents were opposed, and he faced an election that fall.” (paragraph 11)

Answer explanation

From the situation, it can be inferred that Burn thought if he voted in favor of suffrage for women, it would spoil his chances for re-election.

Which feature, if added to Passage 1, would be useful in explaining the mother’s reason for writing the letter?

• a picture of the letter showing the mother’s handwriting

• a photo of the mother posing with a voting rights supporter

• a glossary that explains the joke the mother made in the letter

• a timeline that includes when the representative read the mother’s note

Answer explanation

A photograph of these two women together would help the reader understand that the mother was an activist for women’s voting rights, thus explaining her intentions for writing the letter.

Read this sentence from Passage 2. “The answers revealed a remarkable unanimity; no country had a movement to take the vote away from women nor was there any expressed desire to do so.” (paragraph 17)

The word “unanimity” is a combination of the Latin words unus (one) and animus (mind, spirit). Based on this, what is the meaning of unanimity as it is used in this paragraph?

• lack of shared interest

• quality of being known

• state of total agreement

• kind of misunderstanding

Answer explanation

Unanimity denotes a state of total agreement, or “being of one mind.”

Select the detail from Passage 2 where the author appeals to the emotions of the audience.

• “There is an indirect and a direct reply to these questions which combined can alone give the correct answer.” (paragraph 14)

• “Now and then a writer, man or woman, issues an article which, in fiery and resentful tones, condemns women voters; but both the writer and the magazine that has published it . . . are merely betraying symptoms of painful adjustment to the new order.” (paragraph 15)

• “There was, however, in every land a decided resistance to equality in political fields, and the reason, given with surprising agreement, was—‘Men are afraid of women voters.’” (paragraph 17)

• “They have scarcely begun to stir the mass yet; they have been getting acquainted with its aspects.” (paragraph 18)

Answer explanation

Although part of her appeal to reason (detractors are merely deluded, therefore their objections cannot be trusted), Catt also injects the assertion with a great deal of pathos by implying that the people who have already adjusted to “the new order” are justified in their feelings in contrast to those who are behaving irrationally.

How does Passage 2 approach women’s right to vote differently than Passage 1?

• It questions the reasons behind women’s suffrage.

• It examines the many ways women’s suffrage stalled.

• It explains that women’s suffrage was difficult to achieve.

• It suggests that women’s suffrage was steadily making a difference.

Answer explanation

Catt’s thesis is essentially that women’s political power is nascent. Having only been enfranchised for five years, they are still, as a voting body, learning how to exercise their political will. She further emphasizes that women have immense potential to effect political change.

Choose the answer that matches the author's purpose in Passage 1.

• to describe the events that led up to women gaining voting rights

• to show how women responded to opposition after gaining voting rights

• to show the difficulties that existed in the fight for women’s voting rights

Choose the answer that matches the author's purpose in Passage 2.

• to describe the events that led up to women gaining voting rights

• to show how women responded to opposition after gaining voting rights

• to show the difficulties that existed in the fight for women’s voting rights

Choose the answer that matches the author's purpose in BOTH Passage 1 and Passage 2.

• to describe the events that led up to women gaining voting rights

• to show how women responded to opposition after gaining voting rights

• to show the difficulties that existed in the fight for women’s voting rights