Question

Which TWO options BEST explain why Reagan chose a pattern of using positive words and expressions regarding the West, followed by negative words and expressions regarding the Soviet Union in his speech? a) If Reagan had only praised the West, it might have been perceived as insincere propaganda. b) This is done solely to show the differences between democratic nations and communist nations. c) These patterns were used to motivate the audience to take stronger actions against the Soviet Union. d) The audience might have stopped listening if the speech was all negative talk about the Soviet Union. e) In this way, he kept from offending the Soviet Union with a speech that was too critical of their government.

Answer 1

Reagan used religious language and contrasts in his speech to convey the moral dichotomy between the West and the Soviet Union, which kept the audience engaged and underscored the peril of 'appeasement.' Conservative presidents like Reagan were often considered more successful in reducing Cold War tensions due to their aggressive stances against communism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two options that best explain why Reagan chose a pattern of using positive words and expressions regarding the West, followed by negative words and expressions regarding the Soviet Union in his speech are: (a) If Reagan had only praised the West, it might have been perceived as insincere propaganda. and (d) The audience might have stopped listening if the speech was all negative talk about the Soviet Union. These choices reflect strategic rhetoric aimed at maintaining audience engagement while underlining a stark contrast between the two ideologies.

Reagan used religious language to evoke moral authority and to frame the conflict as not only political but also spiritual. This had the effect of rallying his audience around shared values and casting the Soviet Union as a moral adversary. When referencing 'simple-minded appeasement', Reagan was comparing the West's approach to the Soviet Union to the appeasement of Nazi Germany, which is a potent comparison suggesting the dangers of underestimating or placating an aggressive power.

As for the success of conservative versus liberal presidents in reducing tensions, there's an argument that the conservative approach might have been viewed more favorably by the domestic audience, wary of liberal policies that seemed less assertive. Ronald Reagan's proactive stance against the Soviet Union may have been interpreted as a stronger position during the Cold War compared to more passive strategies.

Regarding foreign affairs, both Reagan and his successor, George H.W. Bush, shaped their policies to ease tensions without appearing weak, leading to different strategies such as the Reagan Doctrine and diplomatic approaches toward the Soviet Union's eventual dissolution.

Answer 2

Reagan chose to use both positive and negative language in his speech about the West and the Soviet Union to avoid being perceived as insincere propaganda and to keep the audience engaged.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two options that best explain why Reagan chose a pattern of using positive words and expressions regarding the West, followed by negative words and expressions regarding the Soviet Union in his speech are:

If Reagan had only praised the West, it might have been perceived as insincere propaganda. By including both positive and negative aspects in his speech, Reagan presented a more balanced perspective and avoided the perception of bias or propaganda.

The audience might have stopped listening if the speech was all negative talk about the Soviet Union. By alternating between positive and negative language, Reagan kept the audience engaged and maintained their attention throughout his speech.