Question

but with due deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, i cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my american acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our school - boys, by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them would not answer the charge. - \a modest proposal,\ jonathan swift which statement best describes swifts use of rhetorical devices in this passage? swift uses understatement when he says that irish boys get \continual exercise\; the boys must endure hard labor on farms. swift uses understatement when he calls his friend \so deserving a patriot\; his friend is much more patriotic than swift suggests. swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a \patriot\; a true patriot would not suggest using irelands children for food. swift uses verbal irony when he says that irish school boys get a lot of exercise; in reality, they do not get much exercise.

Explanation:

In "A Modest Proposal," Swift is known for his use of satire and irony. Calling his friend a "patriot" while the proposed idea (using children for food) is clearly un - patriotic is an example of verbal irony. The other options misinterpret the use of understatement or irony.

Answer:

C. Swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a "patriot"; a true patriot would not suggest using Ireland's children for food.