Question

On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred percent, three hundred percent, or five hundred percent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food.

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

Which statement best explains the effect of Squealer’s propaganda on readers?

Readers think that Squealer is good with numbers.
Readers believe that Squealer is a clever speaker.
Readers think that the animals are naive to believe Squealer’s lies.
Readers believe that the animals are bored with Squealer’s statistics.

Answer 1

Readers believe that Squealer is a clever speaker.

Explanation: The passage shows Squealer using impressive figures to persuade the animals despite their lack of evidence and the animals' weak memories. This makes readers see him as skilled at using rhetoric and numbers to manipulate and reassure his audience.