Question

1. read the passage.

there are persons too who see not the full extent of the evil that threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if they succeed, will be merciful. it is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war. the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf; and
what is thomas paine’s main point in this passage from the crisis?
○ you cannot expect mercy from one who has just conquered you.
○ england will trick the colonists into war by refusing to be merciful.
○ colonists need to rely on their cleverness rather than their strength.
○ it is better to plead with the enemy and await their mercy than to fight.

Explanation:

The passage argues that hoping for mercy from an enemy seeking conquest is foolish, as such mercy is just a trick of war, and explicitly states one should not expect mercy from those who refused justice and aim to conquer. This directly aligns with the first option.

Answer:

A. You cannot expect mercy from one who has just conquered you.