Unit Test Answers

4 verified answers

Which statement best describes Swift’s use of rhetorical devices in this passage?

Swift uses understatement when he says that Irish boys get “continual exercise”; the boys must endure hard labor on farms.

Swift uses understatement when he calls his friend “so deserving a patriot”; his friend is much more patriotic than Swift suggests.

Swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a “patriot”; a true patriot would not suggest using Ireland’s children for food.

Swift uses verbal irony when he says that Irish school boys get a lot of exercise; in reality, they do not get much exercise.

What false premise does Swift rely on to build his argument in this passage?

There are many impoverished children in Ireland.

The wealthy will be willing to buy and consume children.

Children will be cheap enough for people to buy.

Women should have more children in order to build Ireland’s workforce.

Whom is Swift criticizing in this passage?

wealthy people who exploit the poor

farmers who foolishly breed animals for food

children who will not perform useful labor

readers who believe whatever Swift says

How does Swift use satire in this passage to criticize society?

He suggests that people are foolish because they are unwilling to spend money to solve problems.

He shows that the people of Ireland would be better off listening to the English.

He suggests that people are so old-fashioned that they will not listen to new ideas.

He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.

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