PSAT Reading Question 74: Answer and Explanation

Question: 74

The primary rhetorical effect of the repetition of the words "victory" and "no survival" in the last paragraph is to

• A. emphasize the hopeless nature of Britain's struggle.
• B. clarify the administration's war strategy.
• C. underscore the long-term implications of the outcome of the war.
• D. maintain the sense of optimism introduced earlier in the speech.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks for the rhetorical effect of repeating "victory" and "no survival" in the final paragraph, so read the last paragraph. Lines 67–73 state You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs…. for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for. Churchill's message is that if Britain does not win the war, the British Empire will fundamentally change, and his repetition of the phrases serves to emphasize that point. Look for an answer choice that matches this prediction. Eliminate (A) because lines 75–76 state that Churchill has hope that their cause will not be suffered to fail. Eliminate (B) because these words are used for emphasis rather than to describe any specific strategy. Keep (C) because it is supported by the text; both of these terms are used to stress the importance of the outcome of the war for the British. Although Churchill ends the speech with optimism, that is not the purpose of these phrases; in these lines, Churchill declares that there would be no survival for Britain without victory; he is emphasizing what is at stake, so eliminate (D). The correct answer is (C).