Question

Select the correct answer. what does the phrase human sewer rats mean as used in paragraph 12? [12] �."if i were out of this dungeon," thought i, "i would be fighting the human sewer rats anyway!" a. the government and military officials that harassed mother jones b. the lawyers that worked to release mother jones from the cellar c. the people that walked by mother jones's cellar window each day d. the soldiers that placed mother jones in the courthouse cellar

Answer 1

The term 'human sewer rats' likely refers to malevolent individuals similar to despised actual rats in the unsanitary conditions described. It often symbolizes oppressive, exploitative people, which suggests option a, the government and military officials that harassed Mother Jones, as the best match.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase human sewer rats as used in this context likely refers to individuals who are deemed despicable and unworthy, similar to how actual rats are viewed in the unsanitary conditions described in the provided text passages. These could be individuals who are oppressive, exploitative, or behave in an underhanded or morally repugnant manner. Considering the social and historical context provided, the description most closely matches the characteristics of manipulative and abusive individuals, such as those who exploited and devalued other human beings.

Based on the content of the passages, it can be inferred that the term 'human sewer rats' does not refer to ordinary people or professionals simply doing their duties; rather, it denotes a more malevolent segment of society. Legal entities (option b), common passersby (option c), or general societal structures (option d) do not clearly represent the heinous nature ascribed to 'human sewer rats.' Therefore, the most fitting answer that encapsulates the oppressive and malevolent traits would be option a: the government and military officials that harassed Mother Jones. However, without the specific paragraph 12 referenced in the question, this is an educated guess based on thematic interpretation of the context provided.

Answer 2

The term 'human sewer rats' can refer to individuals seen as despicable or morally corrupt, and in the context of Mother Jones, it likely refers to those causing her distress or oppression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase human sewer rats, as used in the context, is a metaphor. It likely refers to individuals who are deemed lowly, despicable, or morally corrupt in some way. In the absence of the complete context of paragraph 12, it is difficult to determine the specific group it refers to among the provided options. However, based on the general connotation of the term and the examples from other paragraphs, option A seems like a probable choice as it relates to entities harassing or causing distress to Mother Jones. Human sewer rats are likely to be those who are perceived as oppressors or adversaries in her struggle, as the term implies a disdainful view towards these figures.