Question

Read this excerpt from Thomas Paine's essay "Common Sense":

Mankind being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance; the distinctions of rich, and poor, may in a great measure be accounted for, and that without having recourse to the harsh, ill-sounding names of oppression and avarice. Oppression is often the CONSEQUENCE, but seldom or never the MEANS of riches; and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy.

But there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind.

What is Thomas Paine's central claim in this excerpt?

A.
There will always be a distinction between kings and their subjects.
B.
The equality that humans enjoyed during creation has been ruined because of war and famine.
C.
Not all people who belonged to the upper sections of society were cruel.
D.
The differences between the kings and the subjects were not religious or natura

Answer 1

Thomas Paine's central claim in this excerpt is that the distinction between kings and subjects is not a natural or religious distinction, but an artificial one that is worth questioning. Therefore, the correct answer is D) The differences between the kings and the subjects were not religious or natural.

Paine argues that the original equality among mankind could only have been destroyed by subsequent circumstances, and that the distinctions between rich and poor could be accounted for without having to resort to the explanation of oppression and avarice. He further states that the distinction between kings and subjects cannot be explained by natural or religious reasons, unlike distinctions such as male and female or good and bad. Paine believes that the origin of this distinction is worth investigating, and whether it leads to happiness or misery for mankind.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer to this question.