Question 9 • CMS 2026-2027 English II CREDIT RECOVERY
Read this paragraph from chapter 5 of The Prince . But when cities or countries are accustomed to live under a prince, and his family is exterminated, they, being on the one hand accustomed to obey and on the other hand not having the old prince, cannot agree in making one from amongst themselves, and they do not know how to govern themselves. For this reason they are very slow to take up arms, and a prince can gain them to himself and secure them much more easily. But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to reside there. Which option best states the main idea of the passage?
Answer
A
Hereditary states never forget their former loyalties, so they are hard to control.
B
Hereditary states come with a history that must be deeply understood if a new prince is to control them easily.
C
Former republics are more difficult to rule than hereditary states, and they will rebel if they are not tightly controlled.
D
The strategies for controlling hereditary states and former republics are the same.
Explanation
The passage contrasts states ruled by a prince’s family with republics. People in hereditary states are accustomed to obeying a prince, so they are slow to resist a new ruler; republics, however, retain a strong desire for their former liberty and may seek vengeance. Thus, former republics are harder to control and may rebel unless firmly controlled, which is the idea in choice A.
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