Topic Test

Question 1 • SS - TX-English II B

Which passage from Kennedy’s inaugural address is an example of ethos?

Answer

“To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves.”

“For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.”

“We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans . . . .”

“We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signifying renewal as well as change.”

Explanation

Ethos is an appeal to credibility, character, or authority. In choice B, Kennedy emphasizes that he has sworn a solemn oath before the people and God, connecting his role to a longstanding constitutional tradition. That supports his authority and trustworthiness, making B the example of ethos.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

More from this Course

Topic Test

Topic Test

Antigone by Sophocles: Scene 2, Ode 2