Question

Read the following excerpt from President John F. Kennedy's "We Choose to Go to the Moon" speech. Then, answer the question that follows.

And finally, the space effort itself, while still in its infancy, has already created a great number of new companies, and tens of thousands of new jobs.

Which rhetorical device does Kennedy use to support his argument?

Antithesis: he is contrasting space with babies
Figurative language: he is using personification to explain the newness of the idea of space exploration
Irony: he is saying the opposite of what he means about infancy
Rhetorical question: he issues a statement about space in the form of a question

Answer 1

In his speech, Kennedy uses figurative language, specifically personification, by referring to the space effort as being in its 'infancy', to emphasize its potential and early success.

Step-by-step explanation:

In President John F. Kennedy's "We Choose to Go to the Moon" speech, the rhetorical device used to support his argument is figurative language, specifically personification. Kennedy describes the space effort as being in its 'infancy,' suggesting that it is young and has much potential for growth, similar to a human infant. This figure of speech emphasizes the early stages of space exploration while highlighting its rapid progress and the opportunities it has fostered, such as new companies and jobs. The options 'antithesis', 'irony', and 'rhetorical question' are not applicable in this context as Kennedy is not contrasting two opposing ideas, saying the opposite of what he means, or posing a question to make a point.