Question

read this passage from chapter 5 of the prince. there are, for example, the spartans and the romans. the spartans held athens and thebes, establishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost them. the romans, in order to hold capua, carthage, and numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose them. they wished to hold greece as the spartans held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did not succeed. so to hold it they were compelled to dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining them. what organizational structure does machiavelli use to develop the central idea in this passage? ○ argumentative ○ cause and effect ○ compare and contrast ○ problem and solution

Explanation:

The passage compares the Spartans' approach (establishing oligarchy, losing territories) and the Romans' approach (dismantling territories, not losing them) to holding conquered lands. It also contrasts Rome's initial attempt to hold Greece like Sparta (failing) with their later successful dismantling approach. This shows a compare - and - contrast structure as it analyzes similarities and differences in methods and outcomes. Argumentative focuses on persuasion, cause - and - effect on reasons/results, and problem - solution on presenting a problem and its fix; none fit as well as compare - contrast.

Answer:

C. compare and contrast