Question

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 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. by using the word \quietly,\ blanc implies that riots and violence may erupt instead.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The phrase "It is to be hoped" here is ironic, not just about future possibilities. So this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The sentence does not take the employer's point of view to show complexity; it's more about critiquing the system. So this is incorrect.
• Option 3: Blanc is being ironic (saying the opposite of what he means) by suggesting it's "hoped" people die of hunger. This highlights the evil of a system that would make such a situation seem like a "hope" (when it's actually a tragedy), so this fits.
• Option 4: The word "quietly" is part of the ironic tone, not to imply riots. The focus is on the evil of the system, not potential riots. So this is incorrect.

Answer:

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