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A Modest Proposal

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following statements most closely summarizes the author’s tone in this text?

a)

Sarcastic

b)

Bitter

c)

Hopeful

d)

Earnest

2.

Which meaning of refinement most closely matches its meaning in the following passage?

A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme.

a)

noun | an elegant behavior or mannerism

b)

noun | the process of taking impurities out of a substance

c)

noun | the improvement of something

d)

noun | a particularly elevated taste or style

3.

What literary device does the following passage mainly employ?

"And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended."

a)

Irony

b)

Metaphor

c)

Onomatopoeia

d)

Allusion

4.

Which of the following inferences is best supported by this passage?

"For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, being the principal breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate."

a)

The proposal claims that Protestants do not have enough children.

b)

The proposal claims that the Pope supports the proposition.

c)

The proposal argues that Papists would have more children.

d)

The proposal argues that the Papists have too many children.

5.

Which of the following ideas about the author’s message is best supported by the text?

a)

The author believes that the best solution to combat poverty and begging is to allow peasants to sell their children for profit.

b)

In discussing the satirical proposal to help the poor, the author critiques those who have placed Irish people in poverty.

c)

By examining poverty in Ireland, the author makes an argument that England should take more responsibility in helping Ireland.

d)

All of the above.

6.

Which of the following options best explains a positive outcome to the plan proposed?

a)

People will be less inclined to have children if they have to give them up at one year old to be eaten.

b)

Catholics will have more children if they can sell them for money, increasing Papal influence in Ireland.

c)

Ireland will be able to import less food if they have a source of food that comes directly from Irish men and women.

d)

Irish families will feel more invested in childcare.

7.

To (a)   is to develop a quality or skill over time

8.

(a)   means to act with or demonstrating thoughtfulness and care.

9.

If you are (a)   you are concerned with avoiding wrongdoing.

10.

A (a)   is a cause for complaint.