Question

Henry David Thoreau: Walden Ch 2 excerpt The nation itself, with all its so-called internal improvements, which, by the way are all external and superficial, is just such an unwieldy and overgrown establishment, cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its own traps, ruined by luxury and heedless expense, by want of calculation and a worthy aim, as the million households in the land; and the only cure for it, as for them, is in a rigid economy, a stern and more than Spartan simplicity of life and elevation of purpose. It lives too fast. Men think that it is essential that the Nation have commerce, and export ice, and talk through a telegraph, and ride thirty miles an hour, without a doubt, whether they do or not; but whether we should live like baboons or like men, is a little uncertain. If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails, and devote days and nights to the work, but go to tinkering upon our lives to improve them, who will build railroads? And if railroads are not built, how shall we get to heaven in season? But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads? We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us. 1) According to this excerpt, which most accurately expresses Henry David Thoreau's stance on the nation? A) The nation struggles to complete the railroad system. B) The nation is uncertain about essential improvements. C) The nation is a disordered and complex mass of excess. D) The nation continues to debate the economic potency of railroads. 2) Select two quotations from the passage that best support your answer above. A) "unwieldy and overgrown" B) "live like baboons or like men" C) "devote days and nights to the work" D) "to improve them, who will build railroads" E) "cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its own traps"

Answer 1

1) According to this excerpt, the option that most reflects Henry David Thoreau's stance on the nation is C) “The nation is a disordered and complex mass of excess.” Thoreau was an American essayist and historian that wrote the book “Walden” in which he focuses on simple living and how simple actions in everyday life, such as reducing one's possessions can help people live better lives. He also emphasizes that people should be happy with the things they have instead of the things they want.

2) The two quotations that better support the answer in question 1) are:

A) "unwieldy and overgrown" in this part Thoreau is referring to the nation as disorganized to work efficiently and too large

B) "cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its own traps" in this part Thoreau wants to emphasize that the nation is disordered and untidy to make clear decisions to improve the nation.