Rhetorical Purpose
P1: The rhetorical purpose of using the second-person pronoun "you" in the opening lines of the passage is meant primarily to
A:explain how difficult it is for people to understand themselves
B:Show that the speaker refused to she's thinking of herself
C:Create the effect that the writer is addressing "you" the reader
D:Indicate that the narrator is giving advice to an undefined audience
E:Comment on the human experience, particularly the narrator's own
E: Comment on the human experience, particularly the narrator's own
P1: In context, lines 8-19 ("Being alone...in other hands") could be used to support which of the following claims about the writer's tone
(A) Her tone while describing her solitude in the sky is buoyant.
(B) Her tone when looking down at cities below is sentimental.
(C) She adopts an awed tone when referring to the darkness outside.
(D) She adopts a nonchalant tone when contemplating her courage.
(E) She adopts a reverent tone when referring to people on the ground below.
A: Her tone while describing her solitude in the sky is buoyant
P1: In line 9 and after, the writer constructs three sentences that begin with "nothing to (followed by a verb) but..." The effect of this repetition is best described by which of the following
(A) It simulates the monotony often experienced on long, uneventful airplane flights.
(B) It heightens readers' anticipation to learn what the narrator will substitute for the rejected verb.
(C) It adds surprise to the narrative, an element meant to entertain readers.
(D) It dramatizes a crucial motif of the passage-the narrator's sense of discovery.
(E) It adds to the adventure of crossing three thousand miles of water in a small
D: It dramatizes a crucial motif of the passage - the narrator's sense of discovery
P1: The rhetorical function of the phrase "sobbing world" (line 15) is primarily to
(A) describe the rain outside the airplane.
(B) suggest the pulsating sounds of the airplane engine.
(C) explain the sadness of lonely people.
(D) reveal the narrator's affection for the Irish people far below.
(E) indicate that flying serves as a release from everyday cares.
E: Indicate that flying serves as a release from everyday cares.
P1: The primary rhetorical effect of the paragraph in lines 30-34 is to
(A) satisfy readers' curiosity about the purpose of the flight.
(B) build admiration for the narrator by describing her ambitious flight plan.
(C) enrich the passage by contrasting the narrator's impressions with factual material.
(D) give credence to such ideas as "the exhilaration of escape" (line 16) and feeling "selfishly triumphant" (line 18).
(E) indirectly explain with facts and figures what motivates the narrator to fly.
C: enrich the passage by contrasting the narrator's impressions with factual material.
P1: The rhetorical purpose of switching from second-person to first-person narration in line 13 is mainly to
A:Explain the meaning of "you are a stranger" (line 13)
B:Indicate that until then the narrator hasn't been thinking only about herself
C: Give an example of the "abhorrence of loneliness"(line 4)
D:emphasize that the narrator acknowledges how alone she now really is
E:prove that the narrator is an accomplished pilot
C: Give an example of the "abhorrence of loneliness"(line 4)
P2: In the first paragraph, the speaker makes 2 negative statements: "I will not inquire" and "I do not believe." Which of the following best explains the speaker's rhetorical goal in saying what he won't do and doesn't believe
(A) To win the audience's confidence by speaking frankly
(B) To surprise his listeners by challenging the status quo
(C) To impress the audience with his decisiveness
(D) To reveal to the audience the obstreperous side of his personality
(E) To prepare his listeners to hear some distressing news
C: To impress the audience with his decisiveness
P1: In the third paragraph (lines 20-29), which of the follwoung rhetorical strategies is most prominent?
(A) Emphasizing sensual imagery
(B) Using abstract generalizations
(C) Mixing facts and impressions
(D) Appealing to authority
(E) Employing periodic sentences
C: Mixing facts and impressions
P1: In lines 3-4 the speaker makes a hypothetical statement about loneliness primarily to
(A) to make a point about the dynamics of interpersonal relationships.
(B) introduce the idea that pain is part of the human condition.
(C) account for the need to be active in various endeavors.
(D) generalize about why we are interested in stories of other people.
(E) provide examples of everyday activities.
C: account for the need to be active in various endeavors
P2: The speaker's primary rhetorical intent in the third paragraph (lines 16-20) is to
(A) heighten the audience's anticipation to hear what he will say about political change.
(B) present an exemplary argument against "sociological speculations."
(C) induce his listeners to think more deeply about the causes of "great" political upheavals.
(D) dismiss customary ways of studying history in favor of a sensational new way.
(E) persuade the audience that learning history is not only worthwhile but also fun.
D: Dismiss customary ways of studying history in favor of a sensational new way.
P2: The speaker's rhetorical intent in the first sentence of the passage (lines 1-3) is made evident by all of the following except
(A) to convey a sense of authority.
(B) to make a connection with his audience by saying "we" and "us."
(C) to assure his audience that he's attuned to their beliefs and values.
(D) to acknowledge that they are people of some stature.
(E) to capture the audience's attention using hyperbole.
E: to capture the audience's attention using hyperbole
P2: In lines 4-6 of the passage, which of the following traits of character best describes the rhetorical effect the speaker is likely to leave on his audience?
(A) That he is unwilling to take risks
(B) That he recognizes his limitations
(C) That he is proud of his accomplishments
(D) That he is an honorable public servant
(E) That he is a relentless seeker of truth
B: That he recognizes his limitations
P2: While encouraging his listeners to become informed about the past (lines 43-44), the speaker embeds a parenthetical remark ("a circle... beyond our control") in order to suggest that
(A) the passage of time inevitably makes data increasingly hard to retrieve.
(B) historical archives are a good source of information.
(C) much of the past can be reconstructed by examining contemporary conditions.
(D) an absence of informants caused by time, distance, or death should not be a deterrent.
(E) limiting the topic increases the chances of a comprehensive understanding of a historical period.
D: An absence of informants caused by time, distance, or death should not be a deterrent
P1: The sentence in lines 21-22 ("On a long...same") has all of the following rhetorical functions EXCEPT
(A) to present information about the way pilots tend to think.
(B) to introduce the anecdote that follows in lines 22-29.
(C) to illustrate how pilots on long solo flights sometimes may become disoriented.
(D) to help contrast the tedium of long-distance flying with the thrill of taking off.
(E) to explain the phrase "like so much time used up" (line 21).
C: to illustrate how pilots on long solo flights sometimes may become disoriented
P2: The main rhetorical function of the fifth paragraph (lines 35-39) is best described as
(A) An acknowledgement that some periods of history are more significant than others.
(B) an apology for having thus far ignored a number of "special periods" of history.
(C) an attempt to assuage the misgivings of some audience members.
(D) an effort to refocus the audience's attention.
(E) a gesture of good will to non-historians in the audience.
D: An effort to refocus the audience's attention
P2: The primary rhetorical purpose of the speaker's extended analogy in lines 7-15 is to
(A) offer a fresh perspective on a commonly accepted belief.
(B) win the audience's favor with a lively and amusing parable.
(C) show that serious academic controversies have a light side.
(D) demonstrate that some academic theories need not be taken literally.
(E) ridicule a widely accepted historical principle.
A: offer a fresh perspective on a commonly accepted belief
P2: In context, Lines 21-34 could be used to support which of the following statements about the speaker's tone?
(A) His tone when discussing the impermanence of nations is ponderous.
(B) His tone when discussing humankind's enduring conflicts is melancholy.
(C) He acquires an enthusiastic tone when discussing the variety of human experience.
(D) He adopts a bitter tone when dealing with the evil that men do.
(E) He uses a jubilant tone when speaking about the permanence of the stars.
C: He acquires an enthusiastic tone when discussing the variety of human experience.
P2: Considering the rhetorical imagery in the second paragraph (lines 7-15), which of the following is the best interpretation of the speaker's position on the nature of governmental policies and planning?
(A) Anyone responsible for carrying out governmental plans should be ready to change them at any time.
(B) Good governmental policies will survive in spite of various pressures to change them.
(C) There is no way to assure the success of even the most carefully wrought plans and policies.
(D) The amount of uncertainty about the future negates the necessity for planning
ahead.
(E) It's in the nature of things that expectations for the future, however meritorious, will invariably be thwarted by countervailing forces.
C: There is no way to assure the success of even the most carefully wrought plans and policies
P2: Which of the following best describes the exigence of the fourth paragraph (lines 21-34)?
(A) To describe the appeal of history over the ages
(B) To define the benefits of knowing about the past
(C) To stress the unpredictability of human events
(D) To highlight the vast sweep of history
(E) To pinpoint reasons why history needs to be studied
A: To describe the appeal of history over the ages
P1: Which of the following best characterizes the writer's decision to undertake a long solo fight?
(A) The irony of flying solo in order to escape loneliness
(B) The need to overcome fears of inadequacy
(C) A means to escape from routine
(D) An effort to assuage feelings of self-doubt about her capabilities
(E) An amorphous desire to make a name for herself
A: The irony of flying solo in order to escape loneliness
P2: The rhetorical intent of the last sentence in the passage (lines-47-52) is mainly to
A:impress the audience with highly charges diction such as "frivolous" and "useless"
B:praise the audience for its interest in the philosophy of history
C:point out a misconception related to the study of history
D:arouse the listeners' curiosity by making reference to "ancient scandals"
E:leave behind a thoughtful definition of "truth" by using a paradoxical counterclaim
C: point out a misconception related to the study of history
P2: The speaker's shift in pronoun usage-from "I" (first person singular) in lines 1-6, to "we" (first person plural) in lines 7-46, and finally to "their" (third person) in lines 47-53 - may best be described as
A: A device for increasing the effectiveness of his argument
B:A rhetorical trick designed to hold his listeners' attention
C:a plan to be persuasive by keeping the audience off balance
D:a method for defusing potential objections to his message
E:A rhetorical technique meant to project an image of all-inclusiveness
A: A device for increasing the effectiveness of his argument
P2: The speaker's dominant rhetorical technique in lines 21-34 is to
A:Overwhelm the audience with fleeting references to an abundance of historical events
B:Romanticize history as a series of captivating, often inexplicable stories.
C:Exaggerate the significance of ordinary events
D:Suggest that the sweep of history is too complex to be fully understood by one individual
E:Imply that the audience is fortunate to be alive at the present time
B: Romanticize history as a series of captivating, often inexplicable stories.
P2: Which of the following best describes the rhetorical effect of lines 4-6?
A:It reiterates the thesis of the passage
B:It explains the gap between historical theory and historical fact
C:It provides evidence that supports the previous generalization
D:It casts doubt on the validity of some common assumptions
E:It confirms the speaker's authority to speak on the subject of the passage
D:It casts doubt on the validity of some common assumptions
P1: All of the following interpretations explain the rhetorical purpose in lines 22 of capitalizing "Time" and "Distance" EXCEPT
A:To support the narrator's previous claim that on long flights "distance and time are the same" (lines 21-22)
B:To indicate that suddenly becoming airborne is the equivalent of a metaphysical moment that, in effect, transforms reality
C:In the context, to emphasize the significance of the moment when the plane became airborne
D:To imply that during a solo flight Time and Distance assume the stature of a deity in the mind of a pilot
E:To suggest that Time and Distance become virtually palpable during the experience of flying solo
A: To support the narrator's previous claim that on long flights "distance and time are the same" (lines 21-22)