Question

Here, then, is one point at which danger may be expected. The question recurs, how shall we fortify against it? The answer is simple. Let every American, every lover of liberty, swear by the blood of the Revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and the Laws let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honour; let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children's liberty. Let reverence1 for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping2 babe that prattles3 on her lap. Let it be taught in schools, in seminaries4, and in colleges. Let it be written in primers, spelling-books, and in almanacs.

1. respect
2. to speak childishly
3. to continuously talk about something
4. a school for training religious leaders

Passage 2

excerpt from The Meaning of the Flag
by President Woodrow Wilson

This is Flag Day, but that only means that it is a day when we are to recall the things which we should do every day of our lives. There are no days of special patriotism. There are no days when we should be more patriotic than on other days. We celebrate the Fourth of July merely because the great enterprise1 of liberty was started on the fourth of July in America, but the great enterprise of liberty was not begun in America. It is illustrated by the blood of thousands of martyrs who lived and died before the great experiment on this side of the water. The Fourth of July merely marks the day when we consecrated2 ourselves as a nation. The benefit of a day like this is merely in turning away from the things that distract us, turning away from the things that touch us personally and absorb our interest in the hours of daily work.

1. a project or activity that involves more people
2. dedicated toward a sacred purpose
9
Both passages deal with the theme of
A.
the need for enforcing new and strict laws for the development of the country.
B.
valuing and honoring the sacrifices of the people who lost their lives for the country.
C.
cultivating love and brotherhood toward one another.
D.
the need for dedicating a special day to love the nation.

Answer 1

B. Both passages emphasize honoring and valuing the sacrifices (the blood and martyrs) of those who gave their lives for the country.