Question

"Wilberforce 1789 abolition speech"
by William Wilberforce

The number of deaths speaks for itself, and makes all such enquiry superfluous. As soon as ever I had arrived thus far in my investigation of the slave trade, I confess to you sir, so enormous so dreadful, so irremediable did its wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for the abolition.



William Wilberforce's 1789 Abolition Speech

Question
Use the speech excerpt to answer the question.

How does the word choice in this paragraph impact readers?

(1 point)
Responses

It appeals to their emotions.
It appeals to their emotions.

It engages their sense of ethics.
It engages their sense of ethics.

It gives them something to consider logically.
It gives them something to consider logically.

It uses a fallacious statement to persuade them.
It uses a fallacious statement to persuade them.

Answer 1

It appeals to their emotions.

The adjectives ("enormous, dreadful, irremediable," "wickedness") and the strong declaration that "the number of deaths speaks for itself" are meant to evoke outrage and sympathy, persuading readers emotionally.