Question

Read this excerpt from Thomas Paine's essay "Common Sense": Mankind being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance; the distinctions of rich, and poor, may in a great measure be accounted for, and that without having recourse1 to the harsh, ill-sounding names of oppression and avarice2. Oppression is often the CONSEQUENCE, but seldom or never the MEANS3 of riches; and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous4 to be wealthy. But there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind. recourse: source of help avarice: greed means: method for accomplishing or obtaining something timorous: fearful What argument is Thomas Paine trying to make in this excerpt? A. The differences between the kings and the subjects are not natural or necessary. B. There will always be a need to separate kings and their subjects. C. The equality originally enjoyed by people has been damaged by natural disasters. D. Not all people who belonged to the upper levels of society are cruel.

Answer 1

Answer:

The argument Thomas Paine is trying to make in this excerpt is:

A.The differences between the kings and the subjects are not natural or necessary.

Explanation:

In this excerpt, Paine explains there are some distinctions, some separations inside the human species that are natural. For instance, the separation between male and female. There are also separations that are spiritual, such as the distinction between good and bad. However, he questions the separation of the species between king and subjects. Such distinction, he says, must be questioned, since it is not natural. Its necessity, too, must be reviewed. Why some human beings should be placed so high above others seems incomprehensible to Paine.