Question

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of the siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. Which best explains the purpose of the rhetorical device used in this excerpt? A. The use of parallelism draws attention to the many peaceful steps the colonists have taken. B. The personification of the struggle for liberty makes it a familiar and relatable topic. C. The repetition of the words "sir" and "throne" emphasize the point that the colonists are subordinate to Great Britain.The imagery of a colonist with no eyes and no ears illustrates how helpless they all are at the hands of Great Britain. D. The rhetorical questions highlight the absurdity of passively ignoring the truth about Great Britain's intentions.

Answer 1

D. The rhetorical questions highlight the absurdity of passively ignoring the truth about Great Britain's intentions.

Answer 2

Answer: D) The rhetorical questions highlight the absurdity of passively ignoring the truth about Great Britain's intentions.

Explanation: When writing, an author can use several rhetorical devices in order to persuade, inform or impact the audience in the desired way. One rhetorical device that is commonly used is a rhetorical question, which is a question that is not meant to be answered but to have an impact on the reader. In the given excerpt we can see that the author uses rhetorical questions like: "Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?" to highlight the absurdity of passively ignoring the truth about Great Britain's intentions.