AnswersOK-English IV A-CRWord Meaning in the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language

Word Meaning in the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language — Unit test Answers

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“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.”
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“However, it cannot but be very discouraging to a man of my complexion in such an attempt as this, to meet with the evil aspersions of some men, who say, ‘That an African is not entitled to any competent degree of knowledge, or capable of imbibing any sentiments of probity; and that nature designed him for some inferior link in the chain, fitted only to be a slave.’”
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“By some of such complexion, as whether black or white it matters not, I was early snatched away from my native country, with about eighteen or twenty more boys and girls, as we were playing in a field.”
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“But the supporters and favourers of slavery make other things a pretence and an excuse in their own defence; such as, that they find that it was admitted under the Divine institution by Moses, as well as the long continued practice of different nations for ages; and that the Africans are peculiarly marked out by some signal prediction in nature and complexion for that purpose.”
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Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon would become breeders themselves: And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.

A
The criticism of the practice would be levied “very unjustly.”
B
Women becoming breeders would be a "loss to the publick."
C
Some people "might be apt to" criticize the practice.
D
Many women would "become breeders themselves."
3

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.

A
Swift states that he has “been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts” and almost gave up any hope of ever achieving success of any kind.
B
Swift writes that after much time and effort, he has finally come up with a solution that is “solid and real, of no expence and little trouble” to address the problem of poverty.
C
“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,” claims Swift.
D
Since we can incur no danger in disobliging England, Swift believes he has come up with a proposal that will finally solve the issue of overwhelming poverty in England.
4

Which is one way that Swift criticizes society in "A Modest Proposal"?

A
by suggesting that people care so little about children they would be willing to sell and eat them
B
by suggesting that people would be appalled by the idea of selling and eating children
C
by highlighting the ways in which the plan could help people support people’s families
D
by highlighting all the practical ways in which people have tried to remedy poverty
5

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 s

B
Both men claim that good Christians and enlightened individuals will support the abolishment of slavery.
B
Both men invoke God and use their Christian faith to establish a common ground with their intended audiences.
B
Both men claim that slavery is the utmost of un-Christian practices and that slaveholders are immoral.
B
Both men call on the grace of God to help them make their arguments and to be heard.
6

Which words in the excerpt have negative connotations? Check two answer options.

A
deprived
B
elective
C
representation
D
oppressed
E
sides
7

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or his own family to dine with him.

A
understatement, because the author truly believes that his plan is worthwhile.
B
verbal irony, because the author does not truly believe his own words.
C
verbal irony, because the author wants others to see his point of view.
D
understatement, because the author does not think others will agree with him.
8

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.

A
teaches readers how to understand analogies.
B
follows a method prescribed by other dictionaries.
C
reflects an exhaustive study of its words.
D
includes obscure words not previously defined.
9

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.

a
angry and disgusted
c
calm and understanding
s
sad and defeated
p
passive and detached
10

[BLANK]

A
inference
B
inspection
C
assumption
D
assurance
11

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal.”Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon would become breeders themselves: And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.

A
a loss to the publick
B
some scrupulous people
C
indeed very unjustly
D
strongest objection against
12

"a contradiction between what is said and what is really meant""a description of something as being smaller or less than it really is""the use of humor to emphasize the negative qualities of society""the use of ridicule to emphasize a conflict between two ideas"

A
"a contradiction between what is said and what is really meant"
B
"a description of something as being smaller or less than it really is"
C
"the use of humor to emphasize the negative qualities of society"
D
"the use of ridicule to emphasize a conflict between two ideas"
13

Which statement best describes why Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments mirrors the language of the Declaration of Independance?

A
Stanton wants to encourage women to appreciate the freedoms that they enjoy in American society.
B
Stanton wants to acknowledge the efforts of American forefathers and the cooperation that prompted independence from Britain.
C
Stanton wants to promote an understanding of the American political system that allows men to vote for a representative government.
D
Stanton wants to emphasize the historical significance of the women’s movement and its potential for revolutionary change.
14

Read the excerpts from historical documents.From the Declaration of Independence:When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.From the Declaration of Sentiments:When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

A
Both insist that drastic action requires a statement of rationale.
B
Both claim that revolutionary change requires hostile combat.
C
Both suggest that oppressive parties should be punished.
D
Both demand that laws change based on popular beliefs.
15

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."

A
Swift skillfully uses language to convey his belief that landlords have mistreated the impoverished and “already devoured most of the parents” who would serve as “breeders.”
B
Swift vividly describes how landlords have consistently mistreated the impoverished and “already devoured most of the parents” who would serve as “breeders.”
C
Swift claims that landlords have consistently mistreated the impoverished and “already devoured most of the parents” who would serve as the country’s “breeders.”
D
Swift states the undeniable fact that landlords have cruelly mistreated the impoverished and “already devoured most of the parents” who would serve as “breeders.”
16

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Question illustration
E
Excerpt 1 recognizes the importance of word origins, but excerpt 2 suggests that studying word origins could be a waste of time.
E
Excerpt 1 recognizes the importance of word origins, and excerpt 2 suggests that etymology is more important than syntax.
E
Excerpt 1 questions the study of word origins, but excerpt 2 asserts the need to include etymology in dictionaries.
E
Excerpt 1 questions the study of word origins, and excerpt 2 insists that etymology is best studied over the course of one’s lifetime.
17

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.

A
objective because it is influenced by feelings or opinions.
B
objective because it is not influenced by feelings or opinions.
C
subjective because it is influenced by feelings or opinions.
D
subjective because it is not influenced by feelings or opinions.
18

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.

A
to inform readers about different systems of government
B
to inform readers about recent governmental reforms
C
to persuade readers of the need for governmental change
D
to persuade readers to petition their local governments
19

best

s
study of word origins.
c
collection of word meanings.
m
modern English dictionary.
m
modern literary study.
20

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.

A
to inform readers about different systems of government
B
to inform readers about recent governmental reforms
C
to persuade readers of the need for governmental change
D
to persuade readers to petition their local governments

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