Question

As you continue to analyze Greta Thunberg’s speech, you read the following.

“I come from Sweden, and I want you to panic. I want you to act as if your house was on fire.

To panic unless you have to is a terrible idea.

But when your house is on fire, and you want to keep your house from burning to the ground, then that does require some level of panic.”

How does Thunberg’s use of metaphors contribute to her argument?
Question 6 options:

It warns the audience that their houses might be in danger of catching fire.


It creates a sense of urgency that the audience needs to treat the saving of the planet like they would their house burning down.


It convinces the audience to trust Thunberg since she's from Sweden.


It reassures the audience that there are no reasons to panic about the state of the environment.

Answer 1

It creates a sense of urgency that the audience needs to treat the saving of the planet like they would their house burning down.

Explanation: The “house on fire” metaphor translates the abstract, large-scale problem of climate change into an immediate, familiar emergency, prompting urgent action rather than complacency. The other options misread her intent (not a literal warning about houses, not an appeal to national origin, and not reassurance against panic).