Select the correct answer.
What is the main purpose of the final sentence in the excerpt from Thomas Paine's Common Sense?
Should a thought so fatal and unmanly possess the Colonies in the present contest, the name of ancestors will be remembered by future generations with detestation.
A.
to indicate that the American colonists can establish a better government than a monarchy
B.
to appeal to the colonies to avoid any temporary resolution of their conflict with Great Britain
C.
to justify the colonies' struggle for freedom from Great Britain
D.
to dissuade some of his fellow colonists from supporting reconciliation with Great Britain
E.
to caution his fellow colonists about the future risks of war the colonies may face
D. to dissuade some of his fellow colonists from supporting reconciliation with Great Britain
The correct answer is E. to caution his fellow colonists about the future risks of war the colonies may face.
To determine the correct answer, we need to analyze the content and purpose of the final sentence in the excerpt from Thomas Paine's Common Sense.
The final sentence states, "Should a thought so fatal and unmanly possess the Colonies in the present contest, the name of ancestors will be remembered by future generations with detestation."
To understand the purpose of this sentence, we should break it down:
1. "Should a thought so fatal and unmanly possess the Colonies in the present contest" - This phrase suggests that if the colonies entertain the idea mentioned (the thought), it would lead to dire consequences.
2. "the name of ancestors will be remembered by future generations with detestation" - This phrase implies that if the colonies succumb to this harmful thought, their future generations would look back at their ancestors (the current colonies) with strong disapproval and hatred.
Based on this analysis, we can conclude that the main purpose of the final sentence is to:
Dissuade some of his fellow colonists from supporting reconciliation with Great Britain as mentioned in option D.
By highlighting the negative future consequences that would be associated with the current colonies accepting the thought mentioned, Paine is effectively warning his fellow colonists against supporting reconciliation, as it could result in the disapproval and disgust of future generations.