Question

comparing arguments from diverse perspectives
pre-test complete
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read the passage from a speech by president barack obama.
mr. secretary general, your excellencies, we are here because, right now, in crowded camps and cities around the world, there are families... whove endured years... as refugees, surviving on rations and aid, and who dream of someday, somehow, having a home of their own.
were here because, right now, there are young girls... whove suffered unspeakable abuse... who pray at night that someone might rescue them from their torment....
we are here because, right now, there are mothers separated from their children—like the woman in a camp in greece, who held on to her family photographs... and who said \my breath is my children... every day i am dying 10, 20, 30 times.\
which rhetorical device does obama use in this passage?
○ understatement
○ tricolon
○ anaphora
○ allusion

Explanation:

To determine the rhetorical device, we analyze each option:

• Understatement: Downplays significance; the passage emphasizes serious issues, not understating. Eliminate.
• Tricolon: Three parallel elements, but here the structure is "We are here because..." repeated, not three parallel phrases/ clauses in a single sentence. Eliminate.
• Anaphora: Repetition of a word/phrase at the start of successive clauses/sentences. Here, "We are here because" is repeated at the start of each paragraph, fitting anaphora.
• Allusion: Reference to a person, event, or work; the passage does not reference external texts/figures. Eliminate.

Answer:

anaphora (the option with "anaphora" as the text, assuming the options are labeled with radio buttons; if options have identifiers like A - D, and anaphora is, say, option C, then "C. anaphora")