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.

   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 suggests that the empire was trading cake and other foods with its colonies.
   • 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.
3. 2.

   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.
4. 3.

   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: dropping the joke for a true maxim names the real danger plainly.
   • Yes, because it explains that the colonists had been injured in a recent war.
5. 4.

   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 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 gives sincere advice on how the ministers can keep the colonies under control.
   • It uses a long list joined by commas and repeated “that” clauses.
6. 5.

   Luz reads part 9: “treat the petitioners with the utmost contempt.” What does the satire defend here?

   • Parliament’s duty to refuse requests that waste its valuable time.
   • The rule that petitions must be read aloud in parliament.
   • The right to be heard: colonists who petition deserve a fair hearing, not contempt.
   • The meaning of the word “flout”, which part 13 explains.

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?

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

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

   • Puppet shows, which the Society wants to close down in the town.
   • The local radio station, which the Society forces to give useless forecasts.
   • Surprise and the unplanned: suspense, delight and honest questions.
   • 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: the calm wish for sameness sums up the joke, a future emptied of anything new.
    • No: a good ending should introduce a new idea, not repeat an old one.
    • Yes, because the Society sincerely hopes for a calm year, which is reasonable.
    • 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?

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

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