1. “…Civil Disobedience”
Spring 2016
2nd Period Stems
5th Period Stems

2. In paragraph one, what can you infer about the author’s attitude towards the government
A. The government is meant to execute the will of the people.
B. The government is a means to an end but usually doesn’t work and is easily abused.
C. The government is a tool for only some people.
D. The army is only an arm of the government.

3. What does the author’s choice of words in paragraph five show about the speaker’s beliefs?
A. People serving the state have free thought and autonomy.
B. People who are serving the government are serving the devil.
C. To serve the government is to give up free thought and be unthinking like a machine.
D. All of the people serving the government are androids.

4. The clause “Show me the tribute money” found in paragraph twenty-three can best be defined as:
A. Show me the ashes of burned money.
B. Show me the money that’s been gained through sacrifice.
C. Show me the ashes of what you have given.
D. Show me what you have willingly given up for many advantages.

5. The phrase “split hairs” in paragraph forty refers to which of the following:
A. Disagree
B. Nit-pick
C. Cut hair
D. Generalize

6. What is the speaker’s purpose in paragraph forty-one?
A. A truly free man can’t be “interrupted.”
B. The author doesn’t have long to live.
C. The author believes in an afterlife.
D. No matter how wise, rulers will squash free thought.

7. What does Thoreau say citizens should disobey?
A. Traditional Culture
B. Society
C. Government
D. Their way of life

8. What does Thoreau say isn’t found in the majority?
A. Morality
B. The ability to think for themselves.
C. Objections
D. Justice

9. What role does Thoreau play in “Civil Disobedience”?
A. Thoreau challenges the government.
B. Thoreau is rebelling against the state.
C. Thoreau tries to change the government.
D. Thoreau is trying to get the people on his side.

10. The statement “It does not keep the country free
The statement “It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the west. It does not educate (paragraph two) is an example of
A. Simile
B. Alliteration
C. Isocolon
D. Anaphora

11. What is the tone of paragraph two?
A. Critical
B. Condescending
C. Harsh
D. Pedantic

12. In the line “If the Injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government…,” Thoreau utilizes which of the following literary techniques?
A. Allusion
B. Hyperbole
C. Metaphor
D. Personification

13. According to Thoreau, civil disobedience is a duty because
A. Individuals are responsible for their government’s actions, and if they don’t protest and resist, they become harmful to others.
B. People have total rule over the government
C. For a democracy to work, citizens have to work together and rebel against the government.
D. If people aren’t “civilly disobedient,” corruption will totally destroy the government and the people.

14. What purpose is Thoreau trying to convey throughout the passage?
A. To advocate against slavery
B. To encourage people to rebel against the government.
C. To advocate nonviolent acts of political resistance to protest government policy
D. To explain corruption within the government

15. The word “voting” as used in paragraph twelve can best be defined as
A. A type of “moral question”
B. “A playing with right and wrong”
C. An act of citizenship
D. “A virtue in the action of masses of men”

16. What is the main point of paragraph 11?
A. Everyone should vote to “get their word out.”
B. No one should vote because it’s a waste of time.
C. Just vote for the majority otherwise your vote won’t matter.
D. Voting should not abolish slavery.

17. What is Thoreau’s attitude towards his time in jail?
A. Thoreau is depressed.
B. Thoreau is angry.
C. Thoreau is fascinated.
D. Thoreau is afraid.

18. What is the tone of the passage?
A. Nostalgic
B. Complimentary
C. Disinterested
D. Persuasive

19. What does Thoreau apparently believe about the subject?
A. There should be no government.
B. There should be more government.
C. There should be less government.
D. The government does not need to be changed.

20. What is the function of the metaphor in paragraph 18?
A. To illustrate how injustice relates to the government
B. To show how efficient the government is
C. To illustrate how complicated the government is
D. To argue that unjust laws should be followed

21. Paragraph 41 includes which of the following?
A. Onomatopoeia
B. Epistrophe
C. Assonance
D. Polysyndeton

22. The word “expedient” in paragraph one most closely means?
A. Efficient
B. Inefficient
C. Replacable
D. Small

23. This essay could best be characterized as
A. A denunciation against the government
B. An abolitionist speech
C. A speech to those who refuse to vote
D. An anarchist’s desire for change

24. The dominant rhetorical device used in line four is
A. Oxymoron
B. Parallel structure
C. Paradox
D. Inverted syntax

25. The “American government” (line 18)is juxtaposed to “a single living man” (line 21) to argue that the government is all of the following except
A. Moribund
B. Easily manipulated
C. Ineffectual
D. Powerless

26. Lines 29-30 use which rhetorical device and for what purpose?
A. Anaphora to emphasize what the government hasn’t done
B. Allusion to refer to America’s recent historical past
C. Metaphor to illustrate how the government has reformed its people
D. Polysyndenton to mention the qualities of the American people

27. The main rhetorical strategy of paragraph twenty-five is for the purpose of
A. Flashback
B. Allusion
C. Symbolism
D. Foreshadowing

28. The diction of the overall passage is best described as
A. Hateful
B. Objective
C. Hollow
D. Vexed

29. What is the Thoreau’s purpose in writing this essay?
A. To persuade the reader to rebel against the state
B. To explain why he is independent
C. To give his opinion on government
D. To inform the reader on government policy

30. What is the tone of the passage?
A. Hollow
B. Defiant
C. Angry
D. Sarcastic

31. The diction of the passage is best described as?
A. Distraught
B. Disgusted
C. Dramatic
D. Objective

32. The tone of paragraph 18 can best be described as?
A. Provocative
B. Enthusiastic
C. Authoritative
D. Bantering

33. In the sentence beginning “Unjust laws exist” Thoreau employs all of the following EXCEPT
A. A rhetorical question
B. A new idea
C. An appeal to logos
D. A plan for revolt