Question

The social problem in Ireland Swift addresses in "A Modest Proposal" is _____.
A. the government was failing
B. too many Irish living in poverty
C. the rulers were being bribed
D. the Irish farmers were rich

Answer 1

The correct answer is: B. too many Irish living in poverty.

In his recognized essay, A Modest Proposal, Swift tackles the terrible social problem that Ireland was suffering: poverty and, with it, the heavy prejudice against poor people that social inequality had generated. Using a rather unusual approach to shock the audience (suggesting that poor parents should sell their kids in the meat market or even eat them), he engages the subject head-on.