Argument in George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" (Quiz)

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way about. In prose, the worst thing one can do with words is to surrender them. When you think of a concrete object, you think wordlessly, and then, if you want to describe the thing you have been visualizing, you probably hunt about till you find the exact words that seem to fit it. When you think of something abstract you are more inclined to use words from the start, and unless you make a conscious effort to prevent it, the existing dialect will come rushing in and do the job for you, at the expense of blurring or even changing your meaning. George Orwell's purpose is to persuade readers to use simple language in political writing. How does he achieve this purpose in the excerpt?

A. He gives an example of finding words to describe concrete items and abstract ideas. wrong B. He gives an example of a writer who uses abstract words to describe a simple idea. C. He provides a quotation that uses abstract words to describe an idea. D. He provides a quotation that uses simple words to describe an idea.

Which is an example of hypothetical evidence?

A. Most politicians hire professional speech writers to prepare what they say. B. In his latest speech, Mayor Johnson said, "It is time for cooperation among our citizens." wrong C. Two-thirds of American students believe political speeches are difficult to understand. D. Imagine how politics would change if leaders wrote their own speeches.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. . . . Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them. Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, "I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so." Probably, therefore, he will say something like this: While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement. Which statement correctly identifies the way evidence is used to support the underlined claim?

A. Orwell lists statistics to support the underlined claim. B. Orwell quotes an article with examples of cloudy language. C. Orwell provides a hypothetical situation with someone using unclear language. D. Orwell lists facts to prove that most newspapers use puzzling language.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. What is George Orwell's purpose in writing?

A. to inform readers of political events happening in his day B. to inform readers of strong language used in political writing C. to persuade readers that vague language is often used to soften harsh reality D. to persuade readers that political speech should be softer and less specific

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. By this morning's post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in Germany. The author tells me that he "felt impelled" to write it. I open it at random, and here is almost the first sentence that I see: "[The Allies] have an opportunity not only of achieving a radical transformation of Germany's social and political structure in such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself, but at the same time of laying the foundations of a cooperative and unified Europe." Which statement is correct?

Orwell uses an example and a quotation for evidence in this excerpt.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. Probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one's meaning as clear as one can through pictures or sensations. Afterwards one can choose—not simply accept—the phrases that will best cover the meaning, and then switch round and decide what impressions one's words are likely to make on another person. This last effort of the mind cuts out all stale or mixed images, all prefabricated phrases, needless repetitions, and humbug and vagueness generally. Which best describes George Orwell's purpose and the way he achieves it in this excerpt?

Orwell's purpose is to persuade his readers to use simple language in political writing. He achieves this by suggesting steps writers can take to choose their words carefully.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. I think the following rules will cover most cases: (i) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do. (iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active. (v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything barbarous. Which best describes George Orwell's purpose and the way he achieves it in this excerpt?

Orwell's purpose is to persuade readers to use simple language in political writing. He achieves this by providing a list of specific rules for writing simply.

Read the paragraph. School administrators should be encouraged to increase funding for music education. Many feel that school music programs are expensive and time-consuming. However, participating in band, orchestra, or chorus has been shown to improve student learning. Studies show that children who participate in school music programs achieve higher grades than students who do not. They also perform better on standardized tests. What counterclaim is presented in the paragraph?

School music programs are expensive and time-consuming.

Which is an example of statistical evidence?

Studies show only 12% of Americans watched the president's latest press conference.

A(n) is a claim that supports an opposing argument.

counter claim

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. There is a long list of fly-blown metaphors which could similarly be got rid of if enough people would interest themselves in the job; and it should also be possible to laugh the not 'un-' formation out of existence, to reduce the amount of Latin and Greek in the average sentence, to drive out foreign phrases and strayed scientific words, and, in general, to make pretentiousness unfashionable. But all these are minor points. The defense of the English language implies more than this, and perhaps it is best to start by saying what it does not imply. What is the author's purpose in this paragraph?

to persuade readers to eliminate certain types of vague language

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better. The debased language that I have been discussing is in some ways very convenient. . . . By this morning's post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in Germany. The author tells me that he "felt impelled" to write it. I open it at random, and here is almost the first sentence that I see: "[The Allies] have an opportunity not only of achieving a radical transformation of Germany's social and political structure in such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself, but at the same time of laying the foundations of a cooperative and unified Europe." You see, he "feels impelled" to write—feels, presumably, that he has something new to say—and yet his words, like cavalry horses answering the bugle, group themselves automatically into the familiar dreary pattern. How does Orwell use evidence to support the underlined claim?

wrong A. He gives statistics to show that bad language is spreading. B. He quotes a pamphlet that uses unoriginal language. C. He provides a hypothetical situation in which a writer uses poor language. D. He lists facts that prove lazy language has increased.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable. Those who deny this would argue, if they produced an argument at all, that language merely reflects existing social conditions, and that we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with words and constructions. So far as the general tone or spirit of a language goes, this may be true, but it is not true in detail. Silly words and expressions have often disappeared, not through any evolutionary process but owing to the conscious action of a minority. Two recent examples were explore every avenue and leave no stone unturned, which were killed by the jeers of a few journalists. How does Orwell use evidence to support the underlined claim?

wrong A. He provides statistics showing the number of times a silly word is used. B. He quotes an expert who gives suggestions on eliminating useless language. C. He poses a hypothetical situation in which simple language is used. D. He gives an example of two phrases that lost popularity with writers.

Read the excerpt from "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell. Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Arctic lumber camps: this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them. George Orwell's purpose is to persuade readers to use simple language in political writing. How does he achieve his purpose in this excerpt?

wrong A. He rewrites some of the political titles given in difficult situations. B. He rewrites a political article that uses unclear language. C. He provides examples of abstract titles given to difficult political situations. D. He provides examples of simple explanations for political situations.