1. Whose actions does Jefferson criticize most harshly in the document?

A. British brethren

B. colonial Governors

C. the King of Great Britain

D. the British Parliament and Prime Minister

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

2. Jefferson believed that governments derive their powers from

A. the course of human events.

B. the consent of the governed.

C. their Creator.

D. the laws of nature.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

3. What was Jefferson’s opinion about changing long-established governments?

A. People should first encourage government leaders to resign from office.

B. Governments should change whenever people disagree with a policy.

C. Governments should continue unless they cause insufferable problems.

D. Long-established governments must always change short-term policies.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

4. What rhetorical feature does Jefferson employ when he begins several consecutive sentences with the words “He has”?

A. Parallelism

B. Rhythm

C. structuralism

D. activism

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

5. A primary assertion of the document states that:

A. people have a right to overthrow governments that deny their basic rights.

B. any king who addresses important issues and grievances is a tyrant.

C. it is necessary to list all reasons for dissolving political connections.

D. Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally abolished.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

6. The Declaration’s list of grievances states that the king has

A. denied the colonists permission to build and maintain their own navy.

B. dissolved the standing army necessary for the colonists’ protection.

C. refused to pass laws that are for the good of the people.

D. raised the prices of services necessary for the colonies’ well-being.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

7. According to Jefferson, what has been the king’s reaction to the colonists’ petitions?

A. refusing to listen to their pleas

B. sending representatives to resolve the issues

C. promising changes but failing to act

D. inflicting further harm on them

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

8. Jefferson’s “reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” indicates a belief that:

A. their course of action is morally correct.

B. they will easily defeat the British forces.

C. God will punish the king for his unjust actions.

D. God has bestowed “sacred honor” upon the Declaration’s signers.

9. What does abdicate mean?A. give up responsibility for

B. provide order for

C. support the importance of

D. accept the demands of

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

10. The word affected meansA. convulsed.

B. absolved.

C. unwarranted.

D. influenced.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

11. What is Jefferson’s complaint about taxes?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

12. What concerns have the colonists expressed to their “British brethren”?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

13. In an argument, a claim is an author’s position on an issue. What claim does Jefferson make in the 1st paragraph, and how does he say he will support that claim?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

14. Infer: What overall reason for the colonies to separate from Britain does Jefferson outline in the second paragraph (lines 8-31)

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

15. Cite Evidence: How do the syntax and rhetorical features that Jefferson uses in the 1st sentence of the 2nd paragraph (lines 8-10) contribute to the persuasiveness of the document?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

16. Draw Conclusions: What theme about government does Jefferson communicate in the 2nd paragraph?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

17. Identify the most striking words that Jefferson chooses to describe the king’s actions in lines 22.31. How does this language support his claim?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

18. How do the rhetorical features in the conclusion (lines 119-133) contribute to the power and persuasiveness of the document?

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE