RA Practice Passage #4

Answer Key:

1. B. By juxtaposing the actions of Cesare Borgia with those of other historical figures

2. C. By aligning with the audience's desire for stability and security in times of political uncertainty

3. B. By introducing conditional statements to temper the absolutism of assertions about effective leadership

4. E. By employing a chronological progression of historical examples to trace the evolution of princely virtues

5. A. By challenging the reader's assumptions and prompting introspection on leadership values

6. E. The writer synthesizes divergent opinions to offer a comprehensive analysis of effective leadership strategies

7. D. By juxtaposing contrasting rhetorical strategies to emphasize the dichotomy between fear and love

8. C. By incorporating euphemistic language and euphonic sounds to soften the harsh realities of princely governance

9. A. The writer establishes credibility through historical references, employs logical reasoning to construct arguments, and evokes empathy through poignant anecdotes

10. A. By creating a sense of continuity with past rulers and governance systems to underscore the timelessness of princely virtues

11. B. By employing subtle sarcasm and satirical humor to critique traditional notions of princely behavior

12. D. By employing interrogative syntax and emphatic language to challenge the reader's assumptions and provoke contemplation

Explanations:

1. The correct answer is B. By juxtaposing the actions of Cesare Borgia with those of other historical figures. The passage compares Cesare Borgia's actions with other historical figures to highlight the effectiveness of his cruelty in maintaining unity and loyalty. The distractor (A) is not the best choice because the passage does not subvert traditional narratives but rather presents contrasting examples to make a point.

2. The correct answer is C. By aligning with the audience's desire for stability and security in times of political uncertainty. The writer strategically appeals to the audience's desire for stability and security by arguing that fear is a more reliable means of governance. The distractor (E) is not the best choice as the passage does not subvert the audience's expectations but rather plays to their concerns.

3. The correct answer is B. By introducing conditional statements to temper the absolutism of assertions about effective leadership. The writer uses conditional statements to acknowledge the nuances of princely qualities, demonstrating a balanced perspective. The distractor (D) is not the best choice as the passage does not employ hyperbolic language but rather measured reasoning.

4. The correct answer is E. By employing a chronological progression of historical examples to trace the evolution of princely virtues. The passage organizes historical examples chronologically to demonstrate the evolution of princely virtues and their impact on governance. The distractor (A) is not the best choice as the passage does not employ a nonlinear structure but rather a logical progression.

5. The correct answer is A. By challenging the reader's assumptions and prompting introspection on leadership values. The writer uses rhetorical questions to challenge the reader's assumptions and provoke critical reflection on princely qualities. The distractor (C) is not the best choice as the passage does not create urgency but rather fosters contemplation.

6. The correct answer is E. The writer synthesizes divergent opinions to offer a comprehensive analysis of effective leadership strategies. The passage considers and integrates conflicting perspectives on ruling to provide a nuanced understanding of princely behavior. The distractor (C) is not the best choice as the passage does not ignore conflicting opinions but rather engages with them.

7. The correct answer is D. By juxtaposing contrasting rhetorical strategies to emphasize the dichotomy between fear and love. The writer contrasts different rhetorical strategies to underscore the opposing virtues of fear and love in princely governance. The distractor (A) is not the best choice as the passage does not employ extended metaphors extensively.

8. The correct answer is C. By incorporating euphemistic language and euphonic sounds to soften the harsh realities of princely governance. The writer uses euphemisms and euphonic sounds to mitigate the harshness of princely actions, appealing to the reader's sensibilities. The distractor (B) is not the best choice as the passage does not rely on archaic language but rather employs accessible language.

9. The correct answer is A. The writer establishes credibility through historical references, employs logical reasoning to construct arguments, and evokes empathy through poignant anecdotes. The writer appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos by grounding arguments in history, logic, and emotion to persuade the reader. The distractor (D) is not the best choice as the writer does not employ logical fallacies but rather sound reasoning.

10. The correct answer is A. By creating a sense of continuity with past rulers and governance systems to underscore the timelessness of princely virtues. The writer uses historical allusions to connect past rulers with contemporary princely virtues, emphasizing their enduring relevance. The distractor (C) is not the best choice as the passage does not employ anachronistic elements extensively.

11. The correct answer is B. By employing subtle sarcasm and satirical humor to critique traditional notions of princely behavior. The writer uses sarcasm and satire to challenge traditional beliefs about princely behavior, inviting the reader to reconsider established norms. The distractor (D) is not the best choice as the passage does not employ paradoxical statements extensively.

12. The correct answer is D. By employing interrogative syntax and emphatic language to challenge the reader's assumptions and provoke contemplation. The writer uses rhetorical questions and exclamatory statements to engage the reader, prompting reflection on princely virtues. The distractor (E) is not the best choice as the passage does not alternate between rhetorical questions and exclamatory statements extensively.