Question

Read the following passage and answer questions 11-15.

Gentlemen of the jury. The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog. Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.

When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad but open, in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even unto death.
Read this excerpt from the speech.

When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

Question 11
What does the phrase “reputation falls to pieces” mean?

A person’s reputation is seriously damaged or destroyed.

Reputation isn’t important; what matters is what one's friends think about them.

One can prove a bad reputation is false by being kind to animals.

A person who takes care of his or her dog will always have a good reputation.

Question 12 (2 points)

Which excerpt best supports the conclusion that a dog would never leave its master for someone else?

"He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince."


"The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful."


"He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince."


"And when . . . death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid in the cold ground, . . . there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, . . . "

Question 13 (2 points)

Which quotation from the text best supports the inference that a dog will sacrifice its own comfort for the companionship of its owner?


"When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens."


"He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side."


"The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog."


"The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful."

Question 14 (2 points)
What is a central idea in the speech?



Humans and dogs share similar positive attributes.


Humans and dogs are dependent on one another.


Like humans, dogs value companionship.


Unlike humans, dogs are consistently loyal.

Question 15 (2 points)

Which quotation from the text best develops the central idea in question 14?

“The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy.”


“A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action.”


“His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful.”


“He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.”

Answer 1

11: A person’s reputation is seriously damaged or destroyed.

12: "And when . . . death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid in the cold ground, . . . there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, . . . "

13: "He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side."

14: Unlike humans, dogs are consistently loyal.

15: “He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.”

Step-by-step explanation:

This speech was made by George Graham Vest (1830-1904) who served as an U.S. Senator. Throughout his legal and political career, he was regarded one of the leading orator and debater of his time. This speech is from earlier period of his life when he served as lawyer. The speech was given in favor of his client who had sued another person for killing his dog. Although Vest’s case was weak, and he ignored testimony, yet won the case.