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Read the passage before answering the following questions.

A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift
Question 1
PART A: Which of the following statements best identifies a theme of the poem? (1 point)
Responses

When exposed, life in the city is actually quite dirty and miserable.
When exposed, life in the city is actually quite dirty and miserable.

Human civilization is no match for the sheer strength of nature.
Human civilization is no match for the sheer strength of nature.

Serious problems like poverty plague cities and cannot be washed away easily.
Serious problems like poverty plague cities and cannot be washed away easily.

Civilizations experience a kind of rebirth and renewal whenever it rains.
Civilizations experience a kind of rebirth and renewal whenever it rains.
Question 2
PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A? (1 point)
Responses

"A coming shower your shooting corns presage, / Old achès throb, your hollow tooth will rage. / Sauntering in coffeehouse is Dulman seen; / He damns the climate and complains of spleen." (Lines 9-12)
"A coming shower your shooting corns presage, / Old achès throb, your hollow tooth will rage. / Sauntering in coffeehouse is Dulman seen; / He damns the climate and complains of spleen." (Lines 9-12)

"Now in contiguous drops the flood comes down, / Threatening with deluge this devoted town. / To shops in crowds the daggled females fly, / Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy." (Lines 31-34)
"Now in contiguous drops the flood comes down, / Threatening with deluge this devoted town. / To shops in crowds the daggled females fly, / Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy." (Lines 31-34)

"Boxed in a chair the beau impatient sits, / While spouts run clattering o'er the roof by fits, / And ever and anon with frightful din / The leather sounds; he trembles from within." (Lines 43-46)
"Boxed in a chair the beau impatient sits, / While spouts run clattering o'er the roof by fits, / And ever and anon with frightful din / The leather sounds; he trembles from within." (Lines 43-46)

"Sweepings from butchers' stalls, dung, guts, and blood, / Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, / Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood." (Lines 61-63)
"Sweepings from butchers' stalls, dung, guts, and blood, / Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, / Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood." (Lines 61-63)
Question 3
Which of the following statements would the speaker most likely agree with?(1 point)
Responses

Rain out in the country is very beautiful.
Rain out in the country is very beautiful.

Cities are the best place in which to live.
Cities are the best place in which to live.

Everyone's life is affected in some way by rain.
Everyone's life is affected in some way by rain.

The world would be a better place if more people had umbrellas.
The world would be a better place if more people had umbrellas.
Question 4
What effect did the author most likely intend with the comparison drawn in lines 43-52 between the beau and the Greeks? (1 point)
Responses

The author mocks the Greeks by comparing them to a man sitting in his carriage, implying that the warriors' trick with the wooden horse was cowardly.
The author mocks the Greeks by comparing them to a man sitting in his carriage, implying that the warriors' trick with the wooden horse was cowardly.

The author mocks the beau sitting in his carriage trembling because of the rain by comparing him to the Greeks fearfully waiting to attack their enemies.
The author mocks the beau sitting in his carriage trembling because of the rain by comparing him to the Greeks fearfully waiting to attack their enemies.

The author seems to suggest that the beau is clever for sitting in his carriage because, like the Greeks, it allows him to proceed through the city without trouble.
The author seems to suggest that the beau is clever for sitting in his carriage because, like the Greeks, it allows him to proceed through the city without trouble.

The author seems to suggest that the rain is just as fearful as when one's enemies stabbing a spear into one's hideout.
The author seems to suggest that the rain is just as fearful as when one's enemies stabbing a spear into one's hideout.
Question 5
What impact does the author's choice of resolution have on the overall meaning of the text? (1 point)
Responses

The conclusion of the poem focuses on the sheer filth found in the city, meant to shock and disgust the reader, thereby emphasizing the poem's criticism of city life.
The conclusion of the poem focuses on the sheer filth found in the city, meant to shock and disgust the reader, thereby emphasizing the poem's criticism of city life.

The conclusion of the poem describes the filth of the city being washed away, a shocking ending that nevertheless implies that only a little hard work is needed to improve the city.
The conclusion of the poem describes the filth of the city being washed away, a shocking ending that nevertheless implies that only a little hard work is needed to improve the city.

The conclusion of the poem describes dead animals being washed away, meant to shock and sadden the reader, thereby emphasizing the need for compassion in the city.
The conclusion of the poem describes dead animals being washed away, meant to shock and sadden the reader, thereby emphasizing the need for compassion in the city.

The conclusion of the poem focuses on the great force of the flood and therefore suggests that nature will soon destroy all that humans have created.
The conclusion of the poem focuses on the great force of the flood and therefore suggests that nature will soon destroy all that humans have created.

1 answer

Sure! Here are the answers based on the passage you provided.

Question 1

PART A: Which of the following statements best identifies a theme of the poem?
Answer: When exposed, life in the city is actually quite dirty and miserable.

Question 2

PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?
Answer: "Sweepings from butchers' stalls, dung, guts, and blood, / Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, / Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood." (Lines 61-63)

Question 3

Which of the following statements would the speaker most likely agree with?
Answer: Everyone's life is affected in some way by rain.

Question 4

What effect did the author most likely intend with the comparison drawn in lines 43-52 between the beau and the Greeks?
Answer: The author mocks the beau sitting in his carriage trembling because of the rain by comparing him to the Greeks fearfully waiting to attack their enemies.

Question 5

What impact does the author's choice of resolution have on the overall meaning of the text?
Answer: The conclusion of the poem focuses on the sheer filth found in the city, meant to shock and disgust the reader, thereby emphasizing the poem's criticism of city life.

These answers reflect the themes and interpretations of Jonathan Swift's "A Description of A City Shower" as described in the questions.