Question

review the passage. the hyperbole is shown in bold.
nations are possessed with an ambition to perpetuate the memory of themselves by the amount of hammered stone they leave. what if equal pains were taken to smooth and polish their manners? one piece of good sense would be more memorable than a monument as high as the moon. i love better to see stones in place.
adapted from henry david thoreau, walden and on the duty of civil disobedience
what is the effect of the hyperbole on the passages meaning or tone?
it stresses the value of architecture.
it stresses the value of thoughtfulness.
it stresses the value of ambition.

Explanation:

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement. Here, "a monument as high as the moon" is hyperbolic. The author contrasts "one piece of good sense" (thoughtfulness) with this grand - sounding but perhaps empty monument. The hyperbole emphasizes that a simple act of good sense (thoughtfulness) is more valuable than a grand, over - the - top monument. It's not about architecture (as the author seems to downplay the value of just leaving stone monuments) or ambition (the ambition mentioned is about leaving stone, which the author questions).

Answer:

It stresses the value of thoughtfulness.