Question

Chapter VIII, paragraph 2: “. . . [T]he little imp fell a-squalling, and scratching, and biting with such violence, that I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old ones came about us at the noise, but finding the cub was safe . . . they durst not venture near us. I observed the young animal’s flesh to smell very rank, and the stink was somewhat between a weasel and a fox . . . .” Chapter VIII, paragraph 10: “Friendship and benevolence are the two principled virtues among the Houyhnhnms; and these not confined to particular objects, but universal to the whole race. . . . They preserve decency and civility in the highest degrees, but are altogether ignorant of ceremony. . . . [I]t is reason only that makes a distinction of persons . . . .” All of the following diction from the passages above illustrates animal or beast-like qualities except __________. “cub” “weasel” “scratching” “benevolence”

Answer 1

Answer:

“benevolence”

Answer 2

“benevolence”

The definition of benevolence is 'kindness, the quality of being well meaning'. This definition does not indicate that the writer is referring at all to any sort of animal or animalistic qualities in the way that 'cub', 'weasel' and 'scratching' do to describe an animal.