Question

read the excerpt from president ronald reagan’s speech on the night before the 1980 presidential election.
i know that tonight the fate of america’s 52 hostages is very much on the minds of all of us. like you, there is nothing i want more than their safe return—that they be reunited with their families after this long year of imprisonment.
when they have returned, all of us will be turning to the concerns that will determine the course of america in the next four years.
a child born this year will begin his or her adult life in what will be the 21st century. what kind of country, what kind of legacy will we leave to these young men and women who will live out america’s third century as a nation?
which techniques does president reagan use in this excerpt? select four options.
□ pathos
□ ethos
□ shift
□ understatement
□ overstatement

Explanation:

1. Pathos: Reagan appeals to the audience's emotions by focusing on the safe return of the hostages and their reunion with families, evoking empathy and concern.
2. Ethos: By framing himself as someone who shares the public's desire for the hostages' return ("Like you, there is nothing I want more"), he builds trust and aligns himself with the audience, establishing credibility.
3. Shift: The speech moves from the immediate, urgent topic of the hostages to a long-term focus on America's future and the legacy for the next generation, creating a clear thematic shift.
4. Understatement: Reagan uses restrained, sincere language about the hostages' situation and the future, avoiding exaggerated claims; his focus on quiet, genuine concern rather than dramatic hyperbole qualifies as understatement. Overstatement does not apply, as there is no excessive exaggeration in the text.

Answer:

• pathos
• ethos
• shift
• understatement