AnswersAZ-English Language Arts 12 ASatire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Answers

10 verified answers2 views
1
Free Preview

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

A
There are many impoverished children in Ireland.
B
The wealthy will be willing to buy and consume children.
C
Children will be cheap enough for people to buy.
D
Women should have more children in order to build Ireland’s workforce.
2
Free Preview

What did you include in your answer? Check all that apply.

A
Swift is criticizing England and the wealthy.
B
Swift is criticizing the treatment of the poor.
C
Swift uses rhetorical devices such as verbal irony and understatement.
D
Swift uses false premises to make his arguments.
3

Whom is Swift criticizing in this passage?

A
wealthy people who exploit the poor
B
farmers who foolishly breed animals for food
C
children who will not perform useful labor
D
readers who believe whatever Swift says
4

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

A
Swift uses understatement when he says that Irish boys get “continual exercise”; the boys must endure hard labor on farms.
B
Swift uses understatement when he calls his friend “so deserving a patriot”; his friend is much more patriotic than Swift suggests.
C
Swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a “patriot”; a true patriot would not suggest using Ireland’s children for food.
D
Swift uses verbal irony when he says that Irish school boys get a lot of exercise; in reality, they do not get much exercise.
5

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

A
He suggests that people are foolish because they are unwilling to spend money to solve problems.
B
He shows that the people of Ireland would be better off listening to the English.
C
He suggests that people are so old-fashioned that they will not listen to new ideas.
D
He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.
6

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

A
Swift uses understatement when he says that Irish boys get “continual exercise”; the boys must endure hard labor on farms.
B
Swift uses understatement when he calls his friend “so deserving a patriot”; his friend is much more patriotic than Swift suggests.
C
Swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a “patriot”; a true patriot would not suggest using Ireland’s children for food.
D
Swift uses verbal irony when he says that Irish school boys get a lot of exercise; in reality, they do not get much exercise.
7

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

A
There are many impoverished children in Ireland.
B
The wealthy will be willing to buy and consume children.
C
Children will be cheap enough for people to buy.
D
Women should have more children in order to build Ireland’s workforce.
8

Whom is Swift criticizing in this passage?

A
wealthy people who exploit the poor
B
farmers who foolishly breed animals for food
C
children who will not perform useful labor
D
readers who believe whatever Swift says
9

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

A
He suggests that people are foolish because they are unwilling to spend money to solve problems.
B
He shows that the people of Ireland would be better off listening to the English.
C
He suggests that people are so old-fashioned that they will not listen to new ideas.
D
He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.
10

Whom or what is Swift criticizing in his satire, and what techniques does he use to make his point? Write a two- to three-sentence response, using examples from the text to support your answer.

Answer:

Swift is criticizing the English government and the wealthy for creating poverty in Ireland. He uses verbal irony when he proposes that eating children is the way to resolve the growing problem of impoverished children. By developing this idea and implying that the English will not mind if the Irish use children for food, Swift suggests that the English government is callous and cruel.

Did you find these answers helpful?

More from this Course

Assignment
15 verified answers

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

Assignment
9 verified answers

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

Assignment
8 verified answers

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Answers…