Comparing Eighteenth-Century Texts on Slavery — Unit test Answers

Read the statement about Swift’s "A Modest Proposal."Swift’s skillful and abundant use of false premises to develop his argument was the most effective way to signal that he was writing a satire.

Samuel Johnson’s dictionary is best described as the first

Which is the best example of an explicit statement from Thoughts and Sentiments that shows Cugoano's beliefs about slavery?

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.To have attempted much is always laudable, even when the enterprize is above the strength that undertakes it.

Read the excerpt from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.In this style, argue tyrants of every denomination, from the weak king to the weak father of a family; they are all eager to crush reason; yet always assert that they usurp its throne only to be useful. Do you not act a similar part, when you force all women, by denying them civil and political rights, to remain immured in their families groping in the dark? For surely, Sir, you will not assert, that a duty can be binding which is not founded on reason? If indeed this be their destination, arguments may be drawn from reason: and thus augustly supported, the more understanding women acquire, the more they will be attached to their duty—comprehending it—for unless they comprehend it, unless their morals be fixed on the same immutable principle as those of man, no authority can make them discharge it in a virtuous manner.

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England.

Read the excerpt from Thoughts and Sentiments.However, notwithstanding all that has been done and written against it, that brutish barbarity, and unparalelled injustice, is still carried on to a very great extent in the colonies, and with an avidity as insidious, cruel and oppressive as ever.

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes the use of the underlined word in the excerpts?

Read the excerpt from Woman in the Nineteenth Century by Margaret Fuller.A house is no home unless it contain food and fire for the mind as well as for the body. The female Greek, of our day, is as much in the street as the male to cry, "What news?" We doubt not it was the same in Athens of old. The women, shut out from the market-place, made up for it at the religious festivals. For human beings are not so constituted that they can live without expansion. If they do not get it in one way, they must in another, or perish.

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Read the statement about Swift’s "A Modest Proposal."Swift artfully uses language to convey the undeniable fact that landlords have consistently mistreated the impoverished and "already devoured most of the parents" who would serve as "breeders."

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary, which, by degrees, I reduced to method, establishing to myself, in the progress of the work, such rules as experience and analogy suggested to me; experience, which practice and observation were continually increasing; and analogy, which, though in some words obscure, was evident in others.

Read the excerpt from Thoughts and Sentiments.But the whole business of slavery is an evil of the first magnitude, and a most horrible iniquity to traffic with slaves and souls of men; and an evil, sorry I am, that it still subsists, and more astonishing to think, that it is an iniquity committed amongst Christians, and contrary to all the genuine principles of Christianity, and yet carried on by men denominated thereby.Read the excerpt from Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African.That subject, handled in your striking manner, would ease the yoke (perhaps) of many—but if only of one—Gracious God!—what a feast to a benevolent heart!—and, sure I am, you are an epicurean in acts of charity.

Read the paragraph.People tend to adopt the style of writing and speaking that they read the most. If hours of each day are spent absorbing the casual banter of social media, the reader’s own language will reflect that casual style. If this material is balanced with more serious content, such as newspapers, journals, or classic novels, the reader’s language is likely to reflect the depth and maturity of these sources. Students should strive for such balance, regularly immersing themselves in text that is more intellectual than a passing "tweet.”

Read the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.