I found this particular essay a bit difficult even though, it was more because I wasn't applying active reading and was looking for a direct answer.
But after giving myself a break, and coming back to the question I could rationalize the answers provided and their position in the passage. I wasn't that happy with the reasons provided by the fellow commentators, So decide to provide my own explanation.
21) According to the passage, to reject rhetoric and still hope to persuade people is
Because this was the first question and I didn't read the passage properly, I was searching for the context in the first passage but the context is in the last sentence .
But those who reject the idea of rhetoric because they believe it deals in lies and who at the same time hope to move people to action, must either be liars themselves or be very naive; pure logic has never been a motivating force unless it has been subordinated to human purposes, feelings, and desires, and thereby ceased to be pure logic.[/i]
A an aim of most speakers and writers
B an indication either of dishonesty or of credulity ( Correct)
C a way of displaying distrust of the audience's motives
D a characteristic of most humanistic discourse
E a way of avoiding excessively abstract reasoning
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22) It can be inferred from the passage that in the late nineteenth-century rhetoric was regarded as
Again for this too, I was searching for the time reference (19th century ) but was disappointed and frustrated as I wasn't able to find the exact position. But it actually taking in a general term; the first passage gives us the historical context and this is the actual position for the question. The passage does say that rhetoric has a negative image for scientists, so the answer should also be negative. Moreover, we have the passage providing additional context.
Under the force of this view, it was perhaps inevitable that the art of rhetoric should pass from the status of being regarded as of questionable worth (because although it might be both a source of pleasure and a means to urge people to right action, it might also be a means to distort truth and a source of misguided action)A only necessary element of persuasive discourse
B a dubious art in at least two ways ( RIGHT) matches the excerpt context
C an outmoded and tedious amplification of logic
D an open offense to the rational mind
E the most important of the humanistic studies
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23) The passage suggests that the disparagement of rhetoric by some people can be traced to their
The first passage is talking about this as whole.
Under the force of this view, it was perhaps inevitable that the art of rhetoric should pass from the status of being regarded as of questionable worth (because although it might be both a source of pleasure and a means to
urge people to right action, it might also be a means to
distort truth and a source of misguided action) to the status of being wholly
condemned.
Yet it is a characterizing feature of rhetoric that it goes beyond this and appeals to the parts of our nature that are involved in feeling, desiring, acting, and suffering. A reaction against science
B lack of training in logic
C desire to persuade people as completely as possible,
If if see only one context of the passage, it is a suitable answer but E is more comprehensive considering the second point D misunderstanding of the use of the term "scientistic"
E view of human motivation Correct ( It gives the overview of the First paragraph )
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24) The passage suggests that a speech that attempts to persuade people to act is likely to fail if it does NOT
Yet it is a characterizing feature of rhetoric that it goes beyond this and appeals to the parts of our nature that are involved in feeling, desiring, acting, and suffering. It recalls relevant instances of the emotional reactions of people to circumstances-real or fictional-that are similar to our own circumstances. Such is the purpose of both historical accounts and fables in persuasive discourse: they indicate literally or symbolically how people may react emotionally, with hope or fear, to particular circumstances. A speech attempting to persuade people can achieve little unless it takes into account the aspect of their being related to such hopes and fears.
A distort the truth a little to make it more acceptable to the audience
B appeal to the self-interest as well as the humanitarianism of the audience,
Quite Dangerous because of the matching word appeal but nothing is given about humanitarianism, likewise self interest itself is quite parochial to the emotions described C address listeners' emotions as well as their intellects. CORRECT . ( Matches the contect)
D concede the logic of other points of view
E show how an immediately desirable action is consistent with timeless principles
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25) The passage suggests that to consider people as "thinking machines" is to consider them as
Rhetoric, then, is addressed to human beings living at particular times and in particular places. From the point of view of rhetoric, we are not merely logical thinking machines, creatures abstracted from time and space.
A beings separated from a historical context ( Doesn't really match the sentence expect time given in sentence, but other are way bad than this so ) Correct
B replaceable parts of a larger social machine
C more complex than other animals
D liars rather than honest people
E infallible in their reasoning
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26) Which of the following persuasive devices is NOT used in the passage?
A A sample of an actual speech delivered by an orator ( No Sample Speech is given ) Correct
B The contrast of different points of view
C The repetition of key ideas and expressions
D An analogy that seeks to explain a logical argument
E Evaluative or judgmental words
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27) Which of the following best states the author's main point about logical argument?
Pre thinking : Overall the passage suggests that even though rhetoric has so supposed problem, it is a very essential part of persuasive reasoning.
It is a sterile, abstract discipline, of little use in real life. ( Too Negative)
B It is an essential element of persuasive discourse, but only one such element. ( Correct)
C It is an important means of persuading people to act against their desires. ( Against Derise? No)
D It is the lowest order of discourse because it is the least imaginative. ( Lowest? Too extreme)
E It is essential to persuasive discourse because it deals with universal truths. ( No, it can be actually be a distortion )
Most of time the best thing is to read actively so that u dont have to go back to the passage, but if u are not confident its alwasys advisable to refer to the passage again .
I am not an expert but this help me to better understand the passage and practise more .
So,I hope this help to anyone having a problem .