A Modest Proposal

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Considering Swift’s satirical purposes with “A Modest Proposal,” which of the following most likely describes the political structure of Ireland during Swift’s time (i.e., the 18th century)?

A) an autonomous country

B) a colony of the French Catholics

C) a region ruled directly by the Vatican

D) a territory largely subjugated to English law and taxes

2. Based on your knowledge of the narrator, with which of the following statements would he agree?

A) Cannibalism is an atrocious activity only practiced in primitive societies.

B) Overpopulation of poorer people is a concern which must be addressed.

C) The impoverished people of Ireland should be supported with employment preparation skills.

D) Protestants are the root of evil.

3. Which of the following literary devices does Swift use in the first section (Paragraphs 1-2) of his essay?

A) Allegory

B) Anaphora

C) Allusion

D) Imagery

4. Which of the following words best describes the tone in the beginning of the essay?

A) Humorous

B) Excitable

C) Woeful

D) Indifferent

5. The narrator states that he “grant[s] this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children” (Paragraph 11). Which of the following literary terms is used in this quote?

A) Foreshadowing

B) Simile

C) Personification

D) Metaphor

6. Which of the following assumptions can be made about the narrator?