AnswersMO-English Language Arts 12 FullWriting an Argumentative Essay about an Ethical Issue

Argument in George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” Answers

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A
inform
B
entertain
C
persuade
D
provide humor
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Which is an example of hypothetical evidence?

A
Most politicians hire professional speech writers to prepare what they say.
B
In his latest speech, Mayor Johnson said, “It is time for cooperation among our citizens.”
C
Two-thirds of American students believe political speeches are difficult to understand.
D
Imagine how politics would change if leaders wrote their own speeches.
3

Read the paragraph.School administrators should be encouraged to increase funding for music education. Many feel that school music programs are expensive and time-consuming. However, participating in band, orchestra, or chorus has been shown to improve student learning. Studies show that children who participate in school music programs achieve higher grades than students who do not. They also perform better on standardized tests.

A
School music programs are expensive and time-consuming.
B
Participating in music programs has been shown to improve student learning.
C
Studies show children who participate in music achieve high grades.
D
Children who participate in music also perform better on standardized tests.
4

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. . . . Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them. Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, "I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so.” Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement.

A
Orwell lists statistics to support the underlined claim.
B
Orwell quotes an article with examples of cloudy language.
C
Orwell provides a hypothetical situation with someone using unclear language.
D
Orwell lists facts to prove that most newspapers use puzzling language.
5

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.There is a long list of fly-blown metaphors which could similarly be got rid of if enough people would interest themselves in the job; and it should also be possible to laugh the not ‘un-’ formation out of existence, to reduce the amount of Latin and Greek in the average sentence, to drive out foreign phrases and strayed scientific words, and, in general, to make pretentiousness unfashionable. But all these are minor points. The defense of the English language implies more than this, and perhaps it is best to start by saying what it does not imply.

A
to entertain readers with complex words
B
to entertain readers with clever ideas
C
to persuade readers to use more Latin and Greek in writing
D
to persuade readers to eliminate certain types of vague language
6

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Arctic lumber camps: this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.

A
He rewrites some of the political titles given in difficult situations.
B
He rewrites a political article that uses unclear language.
C
He provides examples of abstract titles given to difficult political situations.
D
He provides examples of simple explanations for political situations.
7

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.By this morning’s post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in Germany. The author tells me that he "felt impelled” to write it. I open it at random, and here is almost the first sentence that I see: "[The Allies] have an opportunity not only of achieving a radical transformation of Germany’s social and political structure in such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself, but at the same time of laying the foundations of a cooperative and unified Europe.”

A
Orwell uses an example and statistical evidence in this excerpt.
B
Orwell uses an example and a quotation for evidence in this excerpt.
C
Orwell uses hypothetical and factual evidence in this excerpt.
D
Orwell uses hypothetical and statistical evidence in this excerpt.
8

Which is an example of statistical evidence?

A
Studies show only 12% of Americans watched the president’s latest press conference.
B
Senator Smith used the phrase “water under the bridge” in her speech.
C
General Taylor’s speech was canceled due to dangerous weather conditions.
D
Think about what would happen if all citizens watched the upcoming political debate.
9

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.Probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one’s meaning as clear as one can through pictures or sensations. Afterwards one can choose—not simply accept—the phrases that will best cover the meaning, and then switch round and decide what impressions one’s words are likely to make on another person. This last effort of the mind cuts out all stale or mixed images, all prefabricated phrases, needless repetitions, and humbug and vagueness generally.

A
Orwell’s purpose is to inform his readers about political events. He achieves this by listing important events of his day.
B
Orwell’s purpose is to inform his readers about political events. He achieves this by quoting a current news article.
C
Orwell’s purpose is to persuade his readers to use simple language in political writing. He achieves this by suggesting steps writers can take to choose their words carefully.
D
Orwell’s purpose is to persuade his readers to use simple language in political writing. He achieves this by giving an example of a well-written political speech.
10

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.Silly words and expressions have often disappeared, not through any evolutionary process but owing to the conscious action of a minority. Two recent examples were explore every avenue and leave no stone unturned, which were killed by the jeers of a few journalists.

A
examples
B
quotations
C
hypotheticals
D
statistics

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