Question

passage 2
what is competition from the point of view of the workman? it is work put up to auction. a contractor wants a workman: three present themselves.—how much for your work?—half-a-crown; i have a wife and children.—well; and how much for yours?—two shillings: i have no children, but i have a wife.—very well; and now how much for you?—one and eightpence are enough for me; i am single.—then you shall have the work. it is done; the bargain is struck. and what are the other two workmen to do? it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger....
according to the political economists of the school of adam smith and leon say, cheapness is the word in which may be summed up the advantages of unlimited
read this sentence from the paragraph on page 3 of passage 2.
\it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger.\
how does blanc use this sentence to help develop his overall theme?
by using the word \quietly,\ blanc implies that riots and violence may erupt instead.
by starting with the phrase \it is to be hoped,\ blanc draws attention to future possibilities.
by taking the point of view of the employer, blanc shows the complexity of the issue.
by saying the opposite of what he means, blanc highlights the evils of the current system.

Explanation:

To determine how Blanc uses the sentence, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The word "quietly" doesn't imply riots/violence erupting; the sentence is about the fate of unemployed workers, not potential unrest. Eliminate.
• Option 2: "It is to be hoped" here is ironic, not about drawing attention to future possibilities. The tone is sarcastic about the harsh reality, not a genuine hope. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The sentence is from the perspective of the employer's callous attitude, but the main theme is criticizing the system, not showing complexity. The focus is on the evil of the system, not complexity. Eliminate.
• Option 4: Blanc uses irony (saying the opposite of what is morally right—hoping workers die of hunger) to highlight the cruelty and evil of the competitive labor system where workers are pitted against each other, and the employer benefits at their expense. This matches the theme of criticizing the current economic system.

Answer:

D. By saying the opposite of what he means, Blanc highlights the evils of the current system.