Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 67%

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 attribute to postwar Americans the perception of Wrigley's gum as patriotic.

The quotation marks around "patriotic" indicate that the author is referencing a specific perception or label attributed to Wrigley's gum by postwar Americans rather than asserting it as an objective fact. This usage suggests a critical distance, highlighting how the term may reflect societal sentiment rather than an absolute quality of the product.

A (To attribute to postwar Americans the perception of Wrigley"s gum as patriotic) CORRECT

This choice correctly identifies the purpose of the quotation marks. By using them, the author emphasizes that the term "patriotic" is a subjective label that reflects the views of postwar Americans, rather than a universally accepted description of the gum.

B (To praise the patriotism the Wrigley Company demonstrated during wartime) YOUR ANSWER

This choice misinterprets the use of quotation marks. The author does not express praise or endorsement of the Wrigley Company's actions; rather, the quotation marks indicate a critical or ironic stance on the label of "patriotic" as applied to the gum.

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

This option incorrectly assumes that the term "patriotic" is sourced directly from American soldiers. The quotation marks serve to highlight the broader societal perception rather than implying that the term originated specifically from soldiers.

D (To reveal that the Wrigley Company changed the name of its gum to include the word "patriotic") YOUR ANSWER

This choice is inaccurate as the quotation marks do not imply a name change. Instead, they suggest that the term "patriotic" is being used in a contextual manner rather than indicating an official title or rebranding by the Wrigley Company.

Conclusion

The quotation marks around "patriotic" reflect the author's intent to convey that this term is a perception held by postwar Americans about Wrigley's gum, rather than an inherent quality of the product itself. By using quotation marks, the author highlights the subjective nature of this label, which ties into broader themes of cultural sentiment during that era.

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