Question

read the excerpt from notes of a native son. the only white people who came to our house were welfare workers and bill collectors. it was almost always my mother who dealt with them, for my father’s temper, which was at the mercy of his pride, was never to be trusted. it was clear that he felt their very presence in his home to be a violation: this was conveyed by his carriage, almost ludicrously stiff, and by his voice, harsh and vindictively polite. which figurative language device does baldwin use to emphasize his father’s frequent lack of control over his intense anger? he uses the alliteration “conveyed by his carriage.” he uses the personification “at the mercy of his pride.” he uses the metaphor “presence in his home to be a violation.” he uses the paradox “vindictively polite.”

Explanation:

1. Analyze the option "He uses the alliteration 'conveyed by his carriage'": Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. "Conveyed by his carriage" does not have repeated initial consonant sounds, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the option "He uses the personification 'at the mercy of his pride'": Personification gives human qualities to non - human things. "Pride" is an abstract concept, and "at the mercy of his pride" does not give human qualities to a non - human entity, so this is incorrect.
3. Analyze the option "He uses the metaphor 'presence in his home to be a violation'": A metaphor makes a direct comparison without using "like" or "as". Here, the presence of white people is compared to a violation, but this does not relate to the father's lack of control over his anger. So this is incorrect.
4. Analyze the option "He uses the paradox 'vindictively polite'": A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but has a deeper truth. "Vindictively polite" is a contradiction because "vindictive" (showing a desire for revenge) and "polite" (showing good manners) are opposite in meaning. This contradiction emphasizes the father's internal conflict and his lack of control over his intense anger as he tries to be polite but is seething with anger (vindictive) underneath.

Answer:

D. He uses the paradox "vindictively polite."