Question

guided practice
read the passage from the crisis.
a noted tory, who kept a tavern at amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as most i ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression,
\well! give me peace in my day.\ not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent would have said, \if there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace: and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty.
what point is thomas paine trying to make by relating this anecdote?
a. america will break with britain eventually, so now is the time to act.
b. war is very difficult on children and should not be entered into lightly.
c. peace is an expensive commodity, so it should always be sought first

Explanation:

The anecdote uses the Tory's dismissive attitude toward the inevitability of separation (claiming "Not a man lives on the Continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place") to argue that since the split with Britain is certain, people should stop delaying and fulfill their duty to act now, rather than putting off the conflict.

Answer:

A. America will break with Britain eventually, so now is the time to act.