Walter Issacson "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life"
What sentence best represents the author's main point in the passage?
"Both sides too often confuse him with the striving pilgrim he portrayed in his autobiography." (Lines 33-35)
In the last sentence of the footnote, the word "it" refers to
"Meritocracy" (line 2 of the footnote)
This passage is most probably excreted from
A biography of Franklin intended for a general audience
The final paragraph (lines 30-37) functions as
A repetition of the views previously established
The misunderstanding discussed in lines 35-37 is that many who study Franklin
Believe that Franklin had fundamental faith that in fact he lacked
In lines 7-8 of the footnote, the author uses the phrase "somewhat ironically" primarily to
Comment on the apparent disparity between an author's views and social rank
The first paragraph characterizes people in the contemporary United States primarily as
Genial yet self-interested
"They" in line 21 of the passage refers to people who
Have reservations about Franklin's values
The device used in lines 18-17 ("we can... values") to convey franklin's character is
Hypothetical examples
The main purpose of the footnote is to
Introduce readers to an ongoing discussion
In the second line of the footnote, the number 31 most probably indicates the
Page of the Weekly Standard on which the reference appears
Which if the following is an accurate reading of the source for the quotation in the last sentence of the footnote: "social order that follows the principle of careers open to talents"?
Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971, 106.
The rhetorical purpose of lines 14-17 ("And we...values") is to
Suggests that Franklin did not balance his pursuits particularly well
