Carlyle's Writing and Influence MC practice

What is the relationship between the two paragraphs in the passage?

• The first paragraph describes strengths of a writer that Carlyle exhibits, and the second discusses his legacy.

• The first paragraph surveys various types of writers, and the second focuses on Carlyle.

• The first paragraph describes Carlyle’s critics, and the second depicts his supporters.

• The first paragraph considers who influenced Carlyle, and the second lists those he influenced.

• The first paragraph explains Carlyle’s major ideas, and the second evaluates his predictions.

Which of the following best represents the author’s intended audience?

• Individuals who are fairly well acquainted with Carlyle’s writing

• Readers who are having trouble understanding Carlyle’s prose

• Writers who hope to produce books that are like Carlyle’s

• Instructors looking for different ways to teach Carlyle

• Scholars seeking information about Carlyle’s personal life

Lines 5–12 (“He is … noble action”) contrast

• the acquisition of skills and the possession of aptitude

• the labor of reasoning and the exhilaration of acting

• the dissemination of knowledge and the cultivation of intellectual and moral powers

• the traits of practical students and those of creative thinkers

• the benefits of learning and the rewards of teaching

The author uses the phrase “On the same ground” (lines 12–13) to set up a comparison between

• the aims of mathematics and those of education

• conceptually powerful writers and exemplary educators

• intellectual challenges faced by writers and those faced by readers

• the formulation of solutions and the identification of problems

• scientific writing and inspirational writing

On the basis of the first paragraph, Thomas Carlyle is best characterized as a writer who is

• ambitious, seeking to increase the number of people buying his books

• revolutionary, agitating his readers to adopt a radically new worldview

• charismatic, enticing his readers to support his views and beliefs

• provocative, compelling his readers to reach their own conclusions

• masterful, overpowering his readers with a sense of awe and veneration

The “acorns” (line 38) represent

• Carlyle’s young children

• Carlyle’s less prominent contemporaries

• ideas in Carlyle’s books

• books written about Carlyle

• those who are critical of Carlyle

In lines 47–48, the author refers to “an epoch in the history of their minds” to

• illustrate the ways in which other intellectuals disagreed with Carlyle

• define the meaning of the title Sartor Resartus

• question the continued relevance of Carlyle’s ideas

• describe the major impact that Carlyle had on other people

• characterize the arduous process of reading Sartor Resartus

The author mentions the Latter-Day Pamphlets (lines 55–56) primarily to

• provide an example of what is indisputably “good” (line 52)

• identify the book that discusses “past men and past times” (line 54)

• acknowledge some of the concerns held by the “plenty” (line 54)

• justify Carlyle’s desire for “an amendment of things” (line 57)

• explain Carlyle’s inspiration for the theory of the “‘greatest man’” (line 58)

Which rhetorical strategy does the author adopt in lines 44–63 (“The character … influences us”)?

• She goes on the offensive, berating opponents of Carlyle for their absence of wisdom, judgment, and foresight.

• She acknowledges but discredits other arguments, accusing Carlyle’s critics of misunderstanding the originality of Carlyle’s ideas.

• She claims that most people do not recognize Carlyle’s genius, suggesting that only a discerning few are capable of doing so.

• She cites facts to counter opposition to Carlyle’s eminence, claiming that all of Carlyle’s judgments are unassailable.

• She gives examples of Carlyle’s far-reaching influence, noting that even criticism of Carlyle implies praise.

What purpose do lines 63–74 (“You may … own feeling”) serve?

• They contrast the appeal of a writer who merely confirms his readers’ views with that of a writer who boldly challenges them.

• They develop an analogy between the kinds of individuals people are attracted to and the kinds of writing they prefer.

• They challenge the idea that writers modify their ideas to appeal to a wide range of readers.

• They examine whether relationships based on shared ideas and interests are rewarding to both parties.

• They provide examples from various writers in which the appearance of good and evil is deceptive.