Question

Read the following passage, an excerpt from an email newsletter:

During the congressional recess, Representative Smythe

will appear at a local community center. It is our intention

to greet him with a warm welcome and invite him to the

spelling bee we will be holding outside the center. We

encourage him to participate and will offer him words we

know he can spell, like cruelty and ignorance.

What information would be necessary for a reader to understand that the

passage is meant as satire?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

To understand that the passage is meant as satire, a reader would need to recognize the use of irony and humor to criticize or ridicule a particular subject. In this case, the passage is using sarcasm to criticize Representative Smythe and his policies. To recognize the satire, the reader would need to understand that it is unlikely for a politician to participate in a spelling bee, and that the words "cruelty and ignorance" are not words that would typically be used in a spelling bee. Additionally, the overall tone of the passage is lighthearted and humorous, which can also signal that it is not meant to be taken seriously.