Question

but we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law of the largest cities in the state of massachusetts. when you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. we say to you that you have made too limited in its application the definition of a businessman. the man who is employed for wages is as much a businessman as his employer. the attorney in a country town is as much a businessman as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis. the merchant at the crossroads store is as much a businessman as the merchant of new york. the farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, begins in the spring and toils all summer, and by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of this country creates wealth, is as much a businessman as the man who goes upon the board of trade and bets upon the price of grain. the miners who go... 28 quintero pena, yosnedy what is the rhetorical effect of bryan’s repetition of “as much a businessman as” in paragraph 2 of passage 1? a it creates a sense of unity and common cause among all workers. b it reveals the absurdity of comparing one form of business to another. c it highlights the moral superiority of rural workers over urban residents. d it emphasizes that the rural economy is as important as the urban economy.

Explanation:

To determine the rhetorical effect of the repetition of "as much a businessman as", we analyze each option:

• Option A: The repetition compares different types of workers (wage - employed, attorney, merchant, farmer, miners) to their more "established" business counterparts (employer, corporation counsel, New York merchant, Board of Trade bettor). By showing they are equally businessmen, it unites all these workers under the same business - related identity, creating a sense of unity and common cause.
• Option B: The repetition is not to show absurdity of comparison but to show equality, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: There is no claim of moral superiority of rural over urban; the comparison is about being a businessman, not morality, so C is incorrect.
• Option D: The focus is on the people (workers) being equally businessmen, not on the economy's importance. The examples are about different types of workers, not the rural/urban economy's importance relative to each other, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

A. It creates a sense of unity and common cause among all workers.