Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies in Presidential Speeches — Quiz Answers

Read the excerpt from Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech. I understand the fear of war and the pain of division that afflict this continent—and I pledge to you my country's efforts to help overcome these burdens. To be sure, we in the West must resist Soviet expansion. So we must maintain defenses of unassailable strength. Yet we seek peace; so we must strive to reduce arms on both sides. Which statement best describes the impact of rhetorical techniques in this excerpt?

What happens in an ad hominem persuasive technique?

Read Franklin Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war. What are the main purposes of this speech? Choose two correct answers.

Read the passage from Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech. Perhaps this gets to the root of the matter, to the most fundamental distinction of all between East and West. The totalitarian world produces backwardness because it does such violence to the spirit, thwarting the human impulse to create, to enjoy, to worship. The totalitarian world finds even symbols of love and of worship an affront. . . . As I looked out a moment ago from the Reichstag, that embodiment of German unity, I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner, "This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality." Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom. What is Reagan’s main purpose in this passage?

Read the first three paragraphs of Franklin Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war. Beyond Congress, who is his primary intended audience?

Read the passage from Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech. In the 1950s, Khrushchev predicted: "We will bury you." But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind—too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor. And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control. Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West. . . ? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. What type of rhetorical device does Reagan use when referring to freedom in this passage?

Read the excerpt from Franklin Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. Which best describes the type of appeal used in this part of the speech?