PSAT Reading Question 73: Answer and Explanation

Question: 73

Churchill makes the statement "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" (lines 58–59) primarily to

• A. convey his deep level of commitment to the war effort.
• B. indicate that he believes Britain has little hope of winning the war.
• C. suggest that there is not much he can offer in support of the military.
• D. offer evidence of his dedication to a governing coalition.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

This question asks why Churchill makes the statement that he has nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. Use the given line reference to find the window. In lines 60–65, Churchill states, We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us. His use of physical imagery serves to show the amount of exertion Churchill is willing to expend on fighting the war. Look for an answer choice that matches this prediction. The phrase deep level of commitment to the war effort matches the prediction, so keep (A). Eliminate (B) because it is contradicted by the remainder of the passage, as Churchill strongly speaks of victory. Choice (C) says that there is not much that Churchill can offer, but Churchill emphasizes his dedication; the reference is also not about military resources specifically, so eliminate (C). Choice (D) is a Mostly Right/Slightly Wrong trap answer—Churchill's statement is about his dedication to the war effort, not to the governing coalition. Eliminate (D). The correct answer is (A).