Question

question 8 of 10
what does henry david thoreau mean by the following metaphor?

this american government . . . it has not the vitality and
force of a single living man . . . it is a sort of wooden gun
to the people themselves.

a. that the government treats its people with little care, like a
wooden toy
b. that the government looks powerful, but actually lacks any power
c. that the government is a toy that the people play with
d. that the government is more like a dead man than a fun toy

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of Thoreau's metaphor, analyze the key parts: "not the vitality and force of a single living man" and "a sort of wooden gun". A wooden gun appears like a real gun (powerful) but has no actual power (can't fire). Option A focuses on "care" which isn't implied. Option C suggests the government is a toy people play with, which is incorrect. Option D compares to a dead man, but the metaphor is about power, not life/death. Option B matches: the government seems powerful (like a gun) but lacks real power (like a wooden gun, which is inert).

Answer:

B. That the government looks powerful, but actually lacks any power