When a whole piece says one thing and means another

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One (Benjamin Franklin, 1773, with our notes)

   Background: [1] Franklin published this essay in a London newspaper in September 1773, while he was living in London as an agent for several American colonies. [2] It is addressed, as if helpfully, to the British ministers who governed the colonies, and three years later the colonies declared their independence.

   The excerpt: [3] An ancient sage valued himself upon this, that though he could not fiddle, he knew how to make a great city of a little one. [4] The science, that I, a modern, simpleton, am about to communicate, is the very reverse. [5] I address myself to all ministers, who have the management of extensive dominions, which, from their very greatness, are become troublesome to govern—because the multiplicity of their affairs leaves no time for fiddling. [6] I. In the first place, gentlemen, you are to consider, that a great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges. … [7] II. That the possibility of this separation may always exist, take special care the provinces are never incorporated with the mother-country; that they do not enjoy the same common rights, the same privileges in commerce, and that they are governed by severer laws, all of your enacting, without allowing them any share in the choice of the legislators. … [8] VIII. … They will probably complain to your parliament, that they are taxed by a body in which they have no representative, and that this is contrary to common right. … [9] Let the parliament flout their claims, reject their petitions, refuse even to suffer the reading of them, and treat the petitioners with the utmost contempt. [10] Nothing can have a better effect in producing the alienation proposed; for though many can forgive injuries, none ever forgave contempt.

   Word notes: [11] The sage is Themistocles of ancient Athens, who, Plutarch says, boasted that he could not play music but could make a small city great. [12] Dominions are lands ruled by a country, and provinces here are the colonies. [13] To flout is to ignore openly, and to “suffer the reading of them” is to allow them to be read. [14] Alienation means turning friends into strangers; the cuts remove parts of the rules.

2. 1.

   Ari is judging the satire. Does the essay’s method, “rules” for losing an empire, work? Which judgment is best supported?

   • No: real ministers would not follow written rules printed in a newspaper.
   • Yes, because Franklin sincerely wanted Britain to lose its American colonies.
   • Yes: listing real policies as steps to failure makes their result hard to miss.
   • Yes, because the colonies declared independence three years later, as part 2 says.
3. 2.

   Bo reads rule I: an empire, “like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.” How does this image deliver the point?

   • It is a simile, comparing the empire to a cake.
   • It means the remote provinces are the most valuable part, like the icing on a cake.
   • Losing colonies like slicing cake sounds easy and foolish, mocking the ministers.
   • It suggests that the empire was trading cake and other foods with its colonies.
4. 3.

   Esme fills a third margin: what the satire defends. What does the essay defend, under its ironic advice?

   • The colonists’ claim to the same rights as Britons, including a voice in their own taxes.
   • The right of one colony, Pennsylvania, to choose its own governor.
   • The ministers’ right to tax the colonies in whatever way they like.
   • Franklin’s job as an agent for several American colonies, as part 1 says.
5. 4.

   Jun reads the last line: “though many can forgive injuries, none ever forgave contempt.” Does this ending strengthen the satire?

   • Yes, because the line gives the ministers sincere advice on how to treat petitions.
   • No: a serious sentence spoils the joke, so the satire stops working at the end.
   • Yes, because it explains that the colonists had been injured in a recent war.
   • Yes: dropping the joke for a true maxim names the real danger plainly.
6. 5.

   Kira reads rule II: the provinces are to be “governed by severer laws, all of your enacting, without allowing them any share in the choice of the legislators.” How does the method deliver the point here?

   • It gives sincere advice on how the ministers can keep the colonies under control.
   • It shows that the colonies needed stricter laws than people in Britain did.
   • An unfair policy named as a rule for failure shows the policy causes the split.
   • It uses a long list joined by commas and repeated “that” clauses.

7. Annual Report of the Society for the Prevention of Surprises (an original satire (a mock report))

   [1] The Society for the Prevention of Surprises is pleased to report another year of steady progress toward a town in which nothing unexpected ever happens. [2] Our members began the year at the public library, where we placed a short summary of each novel’s ending on its first page, so that no reader need suffer suspense. [3] Borrowing fell by half, which the board considers clear proof that readers no longer feel any need to keep reading. [4] In the spring, our Committee on Celebrations ended the practice of surprise parties, replacing them with scheduled gatherings announced six weeks in advance. [5] Guests now arrive knowing the guest list, the cake flavor, the order of the songs and the precise moment at which the guest of honor will pretend to be delighted.

   [6] Our weather program remains our proudest achievement, since we have persuaded the local radio station to forecast every possible kind of weather each morning. [7] Some residents report that they now carry an umbrella, sunglasses, a snow shovel and a fan wherever they go, but they report it calmly, which is the point. [8] The board regrets one setback: in October, a group of children was found laughing at a puppet show whose ending they had not been told. [9] An inquiry is underway, and the puppeteer has agreed to post the ending on the theater door before all future performances. [10] Membership has grown slightly, although several longtime members resigned after a neighbor asked them, without warning, whether they were happy.

   [11] The treasurer reports that the Society’s budget is exactly as predicted, and that the prediction appeared in last year’s report, which nobody needed to read. [12] For the coming year, the board proposes to remove the last remaining source of uncertainty in town life, the conversation, by distributing scripts to all residents. [13] Members who object are reminded that objections must be submitted in writing three months before they occur. [14] We look forward, as always, to a year exactly like this one.

8. 6.

   Noah reads sentence 8: the “setback” is children “found laughing at a puppet show whose ending they had not been told.” How does this setback deliver the point?

   • It reports that a puppet show was performed without telling anyone its ending.
   • The one moment of joy is reported as a failure, showing what the Society destroys.
   • It means the children did not enjoy the show and wanted to know the ending first.
   • It shows the Society is right to worry, since the children must have been confused.
9. 7.

   Pia fills the defends margin. What does the mock report defend?

   • The local radio station, which the Society forces to give useless forecasts.
   • Surprise and the unplanned: suspense, delight and honest questions.
   • Puppet shows, which the Society wants to close down in the town.
   • Careful planning, which helps a town avoid unpleasant shocks and confusion.
10. 8.

    Ren reads the last line: “We look forward, as always, to a year exactly like this one.” Does this ending work?

    • Yes, because the Society sincerely hopes for a calm year, which is reasonable.
    • No: a good ending should introduce a new idea, not repeat an old one.
    • Yes: the calm wish for sameness sums up the joke, a future emptied of anything new.
    • Yes, because it uses sarcasm to insult the people who read the report.
11. 9.

    Tala reads sentence 3: borrowing fell by half, “which the board considers clear proof that readers no longer feel any need to keep reading.” How does this sentence deliver the point?

    • A plain loss is spun as success, showing how the Society’s logic ruins things.
    • It reports a fall in library borrowing after summaries were added to the novels.
    • It shows the plan succeeded, since readers no longer felt any need to keep reading.
    • It is a long sentence that ends with a “which” clause.
12. 10.

    Zee looks at sentences 10 and 12: members resign when asked “whether they were happy,” and the board plans scripts for conversation. What do these details defend?

    • Honest, unscripted talk between people, which the Society fears most of all.
    • Writers who produce scripts for plays and films.
    • The neighbor who asked the question in sentence 10.
    • The Society’s right to protect its members from rude and personal questions.