Judy Syfers Brady Answers to quiz

Judy Syfers Brady

Answers to quiz

1. 
   Syfer’s argument is based on the premise that all wives are completely devoted to advancing their husbands' causes, be it their careers or their home life. At the same time, they remain glamorous and ready to shine at a social gathering. Careful thinking, of course, should lead you to recognize that the amazing creature –“a wife”—she describes probably exists only as a composite picture of many outstanding wives. Moreover, the author never addresses the advantages of being a wife, only those of being a husband.
   
2. 
   Exaggeration, also known as hyperbole, contributes heavily to the delight of reading this essay. The wife described simply has no faults. She is every man’s dream companion, but since we know that no such perfect wife exists, we can laugh at the portrait.
   
3. 
   She keeps using the pronouns “I,” “my,” and “me” in order to emphasize the point that a wife is most useful and laudable when she caters to her husband’s every need and desire. See paragraph 4 and 8, where my is italicized for emphasis.
   
4. 
   The evidence she uses is probably based on her own experience, having observed husbands who had wives support them through school, take care of their children, run their social life, and clean their house—all without bothering the husband’s own busy schedule and, of course, without complaining.
   
5. 
   Have students discuss the fairness issue. We think that much of the essay is written with the voice of exaggerated sarcasm—as if by someone who felt bitter about having been used and then discarded like a dirty handkerchief.
   
6. 
   Many husbands today provide the following comforts for their wives:
   

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  income so that a wife can remain at home with the children
  
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  hard physical work, such as carrying heavy bags or suitcases
  
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  intelligent companionship
  
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  doing most of the driving when an automobile trip is involved
  
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  maintaining success on the job to keep the family happy and respectable
  

7. 
   Since 1970, women have made immense strides in the work place, becoming lawyers, physicians, CEOs, TV news anchors, college presidents, and successful political candidates. While women still complain about a “glass ceiling” that keeps them from getting the top jobs as easily as men do, they have become ever more educated and ever more visible in the world of executive privilege.
   
8. 
   She makes it look as if the wife is the long-suffering martyr in a relationship where the husband is selfish and demanding while also being extremely nonchalant about his own spousal fidelity. We believe this picture to be grossly exaggerated because in the real world, sexual ennui is displayed by both genders, as is sexual fidelity.
   
9. 
   The final sentence of the essay is like taking a big breath after quickly reciting a long list of items. The answer she expects from the reader is, “No one would not want a wife!” The sentence is italicized for emphasis.
   
10. 
    Encourage freedom of discussion on this question. You might consider placing a list on the chalkboard, giving each item a ranking in terms of its importance in a marriage.
    

c, c, a, a, d

1. 
   He interprets it as the belief that “it is wrong, and perhaps dangerous, to vote your moral convictions unless everybody else already shares them.” The author turns the belief into a paradox, because if you did not vote your beliefs unless everyone already shared them, then there would be no need for voting them—because voting is lawmaking, and lawmaking is a way of imposing one’s belief.
   

2. 
   Leo points to the abolition movement and the civil rights movement as being primarily responsible for the freedom of the slaves and for giving blacks equal rights with whites. Religious movements in the country have also contributed excellent hospitals, schools, and valuable social programs for the poor.
   

3. 
   Leo deplores the fact that whereas the “don’t impose” people criticize Catholics for being against abortion and stem cell research, they forget to criticize those Catholics who do not follow the pope’s insistence that rich people should share their wealth with the poor or that they should oppose the death penalty. In other words, Leo feels that the “don’t impose” people are biased in favor of their own special interests. Have students think of similar inconsistencies on the part of the evangelicals or Catholics. One example is the fact that many religious people insist on everyone’s freedom to pursue happiness; yet, they would deny gays the right to marry or adopt children.
   

4. 
   This question should engender a lively class discussion. Encourage students to share their views with the class.
   

5. 
   All of us tend to scoff at people whose views we consider fanatic, or inhumane, or stupid; however, in a democratic society we must be careful not to trample on individual, personal beliefs—especially if they do not harm the public weal.
   

6. 
   The example is bared because it supports the author’s argument that voters should not keep someone out of office just because that person holds a religious views in conflict with that of the voter. Now, let’s look at this example: Should a teetotaler refrain from voting for, say, a city mayor because the mayor was seen having a glass of wine at a public banquet? Have students bring up other possible examples for discussion by the class.
   

7. 
   Allow for individual answers and examples.
   

8. 
   In paragraph 9. Leo’s assertion merely reinforces the truth that what we personally believe always seems more right or moral than what an opponent believes. It is difficult to listen without bias to someone who thinks quite differently from what we do, but unprejudiced listening is what an intelligent person must develop.
   

9. 
   Leo’s answer is to realize that neither religious nor secular answers are privileged or out of bounds. The goal is to drop the “don’t impose your beliefs on me” argument and to be unprejudiced.
   

10. 
    He makes himself look reasonable by admitting that he is “struggling” to understand the “don’t impose your values” attitude. Also, he never becomes emotional or irrational. During this short essay, he uses four references from other sources to support his view: 1) Paragraph 2 and 9: UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, 2) Paragraph 7: The Times’ comment on the Rocco Buttiglione case. In your own writing, remember that the opinion of experts gives strong support to an opinion.
    

c,b, a, c, d

1. 
   The opening sentence of the essay is the author’s thesis, and he repeats the thesis in the final sentence, thus leaving the reader with the thesis as the last thought to remember. Moreover, the thesis is a direct answer to the title of the essay. Only a superficial reader would miss the main point of this essay.
   

2. 
   Students may differ in their answers, but we think that the two most persuasive elements are the statistics used by the author to show the vast numbers of people involved in the homosexual community, and the reference to how children’s lives would be improved if they were adopted by gay parents.
   

3. 
   He cites six powerful agencies to prove his point: 1) The American Academy of Pediatrics, 2) the Child Welfare League of America, 3) the North American Council on Adoptable Children, 4) the American Psychiatric Association, 5) the American Psychological Association, and 6) the National Association of Social Workers. One weakness of these reference is that he does not quote any one person from these organizations, but simply assumes that we will accept his blanket statement that these agencies have concluded that gay and lesbian homes would be an improvement for many kids in foster care. The reader might want to check on these agencies to confirm their view.
   

4. 
   This is a sticky issue because no one would want to see Billy suffer; however, one might ask, “Do we need to revamp the entire marriage code in order to save Billy?” If our society would allow civil unions that would grant legal rights to gay couples, that might save Billy without having his parents actually “get married.” Encourage debate, but not hostility or intolerance, on this issue.
   

5. 
   According to the author, gays will go in and refurbish a community so that it will then attract the “creative class” because this class is drawn to the values gays represent—diversity, open-mindedness, variety, eccentricity. We add to this the argument that people like to see gays move into a run-down community because they refurbish the community with great artistic skills. Real estate values that have plummeted rise again—a boon to business.
   

6. 
   This is an important question to ponder. The class might consider such factors as the ease with which divorces can be obtained, the absence from home of working parents—during the children’s formative years, the secularization of moral values, or the longer life spans that place tension on an already rocky marriage. Encourage students to bring other ideas to this debate.
   

d, b, a, a, c

1. 
   Frum focuses on the word marriage, thus getting away from the issue of homosexuality. The author wants to emphasize the fact that his argument is not a vilification of the gay community, but rather a protection of marriage.
   

2. 
   Frum says that these advocates of change are riding a very fast train—one that will not stop anywhere between the criminalization of homosexuality and full state recognition of homosexual relationships. A train hurtling along its tracks is certainly a powerful image, indicating that such a train would be difficult to stop before it reaches its destination. Have students suggest other images, such as a huge rock rolling downhill, or a tsunami advancing toward the shore.
   

3. 
   It is ironic that both sides have come to understand the importance of marriage at a time when the institution of marriage is approaching collapse. The author is surely thinking of the high divorce rate among married couples and the ease with which some modern couples sever their marriage ties. Have students discuss what has contributed to this growing frailty of marriage. Consider such factors as couples living longer, women holding jobs, and the secularization of society so that churches have lost their influence on parishioners.
   

4. 
   Frum insists that same-sex marriage would reduce the odds of children growing up in a stable home. In support of his argument, he cites the laws of foreign countries like Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Canada, which have established legal partnerships similar to same-sex marriage, and these partnerships blur the line between being married and not married; moreover, they are easier to get out of than a marriage and thus do not offer greater stability for children than the present concept of marriage. Have students offer their opinions on this point.
   

5. 
   By “continuum” the author means a gradual change from true singlehood to formal matrimony. The author finds this continuum bad for children because in countries where pact laws occur, couples usually break up before they have co-habited for five years, leaving the child in a broken home.
   

6. 
   The “crazy-quilt” figure of speech brings to mind one of these quilts where people add squares of their own making in order to celebrate a special occasion. While in some cases the quilt can be striking, from an artistic point of view it often reveals confusion and disorder. Frum uses another image in the title of his essay—“the marriage buffet,” which also indicates the variety of relationships that would result from pact laws. We consider both images vivid and effective. Have students discuss why appropriate figurative language perks up and improves an essay.
   

7. 
   Frum states his thesis as the final sentence of his essay: “It is a strange idea of conservatism that would fail to see marriage as something to conserve.” This is the punch line the reader is left with. The beginning and the end of an essay are usually the best places for the most important idea the writer wants to put across.