Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" (Continued)

Question 1

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."Whereas the maintainance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Swift argues that caring for thousands of children will cost more than ten shillings a piece each year. His proposal to eat the children would increase the circulation of money by fifty thousand pounds yearly and strengthen England’s economy.

Question 2

Which best describes Swift’s purpose for writing "A Modest Proposal"?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

to criticize England’s treatment of the Irish with the hope of bringing about societal change

Question 3

Read the statement about Swift’s "A Modest Proposal."In "A Modest Proposal," Swift indisputably proves that the children's skins could even be used to create clothing.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

suggests

Question 4

In "A Modest Proposal," why does Swift intentionally use false premises as a basis for his arguments?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

to signal that he is actually writing a satire

Question 5

Which are main ideas of Swift’s "A Modest Proposal"? Select three options.People could solve the problem of poverty in England by breeding, selling, and eating its impoverished children.The practice of eating impoverished children would benefit the poor, the wealthy, and the English economy.Those who constantly breed would have to care for their children for only one year before selling them for a profit.Men would take better care of their pregnant wives because they would not want to do anything to cause a miscarriage.Swift maintains that his solution to end poverty in England is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective proposal thus far made.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

People could solve the problem of poverty in England by breeding, selling, and eating its impoverished children.; The practice of eating impoverished children would benefit the poor, the wealthy, and the English economy.; Swift maintains that his solution to end poverty in England is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective proposal thus far made.

Question 6

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner I prescribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as they have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common sustenance, with neither house nor cloaths to cover them from the inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of intailing the like, or greater miseries, upon their breed for ever.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Swift maintains that, if asked, people who have lived in poverty their entire lives would say that they would rather have been sold for food at one year of age.

Question 7

Which sentence about Swift’s "A Modest Proposal" is written objectively?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“A Modest Proposal” uses false premises to signal that it is actually a satire.

Question 8

criticizeexplainsupportapplaud

Revolt · Accepted Answer

criticize

Question 9

Read the statement about Swift’s "A Modest Proposal."Swift foolishly boasts that his proposal to help end poverty will also encourage marriage and improve the quality of family life.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

foolishly boasts

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" (Continued) Answers

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