Question

read this passage:

i accept this award today with an abiding faith in america
and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. i refuse to
accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of
history. i refuse to accept the idea that the \isness\ of
mans present nature makes him morally incapable of
reaching up for the eternal \oughtness\ that forever
confronts him. i refuse to accept the idea that man is mere
flotsam and jetsam in the river of life, unable to influence
the unfolding events which surround him. i refuse to
accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the
starless midnight of racism and war that the bright
daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a
reality.

• martin luther king jr., nobel prize acceptance speech,

1964

how does king emphasize an important idea in this passage?

a. he repeats the words \i refuse to accept.\
b. he uses made - up words like \isness.\
c. he refers to his \abiding faith in america.\
d. he mentions both \war\ and \peace.\

Explanation:

In the passage, King uses the repetition of "I refuse to accept" multiple times. Repetition is a rhetorical device that can emphasize an idea. Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: The repeated "I refuse to accept" clearly emphasizes his rejection of certain negative views, which is a key idea in the passage.
• Option B: "Isness" is not a made - up word. It is a legitimate philosophical term related to the state of being. But its use here is not the main way of emphasizing an important idea.
• Option C: Mentioning "abiding faith in America" is just one part of his statement and not the main way of emphasizing the overall important idea of rejecting negative views.
• Option D: Mentioning "war" and "peace" is part of the content but not the main rhetorical device for emphasizing the important idea.

Answer:

A. He repeats the words "I refuse to accept."