modest proposal

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 education from the government.

• Poverty and starvation are increasingly plaguing the streets.

 Why are infants a problem, according to the author?

• They are too young to provide for themselves or contribute to society

• They need constant attention and affection from parents

• They contract illnesses easily and often die within their first year

• They are worth more than adolescents

The author reveals that his solution is to

• Sell children off for labor

• Teach children about agriculture

• Take infants away from their mothers

• Breed, raise and eat infants as livestock

The narrator claims to have no personal motive behind his proposal because he

• does not have a wife

• has all the money he could want

• does not own a tavern

• does not have any children to sell

Swift compares poor women to ___, whose only purpose is to have children.

• employees

• breeders

• lawyers

What is Swift's claim?

• The English need to be treated better or they will start to eat children.
• The Irish need to handle their money better or they will have to sell children.
• The English should sell their children into Irish slavery to help their economy.
• The Irish should sell their babies to English butchers as a delicacy.

The narrator claims to have no personal motive behind his proposal because...

• He is English and could not benefit from his proposal
• His wife is past childbearing age
• He lives in the country and doesn't own a farm
• He is not a landlord and does not wish to be rich

Does Swift expect his readers to seriously consider his proposal?  Why?

• No. He is trying to raise awareness about an issue.
• Yes. He is trying to create a new part of the meat industry.
• No. He is trying to help the Irish win the war with England.
• Yes. He is trying to help the English win the war with Ireland.

The title of the essay, “ A Modest Proposal,” is an example of

• understatement

• overstatement

• caricature

• None of these

How does satire attempt to improve individuals or society?

• By modeling correct thoughts and behaviors

• By praising achievements and honors

• By ridiculing flaws and follies

• By explicitly explaining the difference between right and wrong