Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

During the Second World War, when the Wrigley Company discovered that it did not have the resources to produce enough chewing gum for both civilians at home and soldiers abroad- soldiers who relied on gum to avoid having dry mouths on the battlefield- the company immediately donated all of its gum to the war effort. After the war, Wrigley's gum sales grew stronger than ever, as Americans clamored for the company's "patriotic" chewing gum.

Why does the author place quotation marks around the word "patriotic" (sentence 2)?

Rationale

To acknowledge that Wrigley's gum, while associated with a patriotic gesture, is not actually patriotic.

The author uses quotation marks around "patriotic" to suggest a level of skepticism about the term's applicability to Wrigley's gum. This implies that, although the gum is linked to acts of patriotism, it may not genuinely embody that quality.

A (To acknowledge that Wrigley's gum, while associated with a patriotic gesture, is not actually patriotic) CORRECT

This choice accurately reflects the author's intent by using quotation marks to signal that the term "patriotic" may be used ironically or with doubt, indicating that the association with patriotism does not equate to true patriotism.

B (To emphasize that Wrigley's gum helped American soldiers) YOUR ANSWER

While the passage may imply that Wrigley's gum had a positive impact on American soldiers, the quotation marks do not serve to emphasize this point. Instead, they suggest a questioning of the authenticity of the term "patriotic" rather than a straightforward endorsement of the gum's benefits.

C (To show that American soldiers used the word patriotic to describe Wrigley's gum) YOUR ANSWER

This choice misinterprets the author's use of quotation marks. Rather than indicating that soldiers themselves described the gum as "patriotic," the quotation marks highlight the author's skepticism regarding the term’s validity in this context.

D (To indicate that the Wrigley Company changed the name of the product to include the word patriotic) YOUR ANSWER

There is no indication in the passage that the Wrigley Company changed the name or that the quotation marks refer to a name change. This choice misreads the intent of the quotation marks, which focus on the authenticity of the patriotic claim rather than branding.

Conclusion

The use of quotation marks around "patriotic" suggests a critical stance toward the term as it relates to Wrigley's gum. The author implies that while the gum is connected to the concept of patriotism, it may not truly be patriotic in nature. By analyzing the choices, it becomes clear that choice A captures the author's skepticism best, as it highlights the distinction between association and genuine quality.

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