Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal." A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for want of work and service. Which statement best describes Swift’s use of rhetorical devices in this excerpt?
Answer
A
Swift uses irony when he says the person with whom he discussed his plan is “very worthy” and “a true lover of this country.”
B
Swift uses irony when he says “so great a number of both sexes” are in desperate need of “work and service.”
C
Swift uses a false premise when he says the “gentlemen of the kingdom” have “destroyed their deer.”
D
Swift uses a false premise when he says that people of the kingdom are in “want of venison.”
Explanation
Swift’s praise of the adviser as “very worthy” and “a true lover of this country” is ironic: the adviser proposes replacing venison with the bodies of children, an appalling suggestion. The exaggeratedly respectful description contrasts with the cruelty of the proposal. The excerpt does not establish that the claims about deer or people needing work are false premises.
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