Question

Read the following excerpt from Patrick Henry's March 23, 1775, speech:
If we wish to be free-if we mean to preserve inviolate
those inestimable privileges for which we have been so
long contending-if we mean not basely to abandon the
noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged,
and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon,
until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-
we must fight!
Which statement best explains how Patrick Henry uses parallelism in the
passage to influence the audience?
A. Henry carefully lists the principles that all the colonists follow,
principles that their British rulers do not share.
B. The repetition of the word "fight" is meant to stir up the listeners'
violent hatred of the British.
) C. By constantly referring to "we," Henry makes it obvious that both
he and the audience must sue for peace together.
O
D. Repeating the words "if we" emphasizes the number of values that
Henry and the audience have in common.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

B: In this passage, he uses fight only once. The answer is not B.

A: The second part of the choice we don't know to be true of the British. They may very well have the same values; they may not want to share them.

C: We must fight does not sound like they are trying to sue for peace. It cannot be C

D: The answer is D. Patrick Henry is putting into words what everyone in the audience feels.

D is the answer.

Answer 2

Answer:

D. Repeating the words "if we" emphasizes the number of values that  Henry and the audience have in common.

Explanation:

In the excerpt from Patrick Henry's speech, he makes use of parallel structures to further influence the audience. In fact, he repeats the phrase "If we" three times to highlight the importance of the expressions that follow: "be free," "perserve" and not "to abandon the noble struggle" America has been involved in.