Read the following speech excerpt and then select the correct answer to the question below: President George W. Bush’s speech to the troops on the USS Abraham Lincoln
Our mission continues. Al-Qaida is wounded, not destroyed. The scattered cells of the terrorist network still operate in many nations, and we know from daily intelligence that they continue to plot against free people. The proliferation of deadly weapons remains a serious danger. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. Our government has taken unprecedented measures to defend the homeland — and we will continue to hunt down the enemy before he can strike.

The war on terror is not over, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide. No act of the terrorists will change our purpose, or weaken our resolve, or alter their fate. Their cause is lost. Free nations will press on to victory.

Other nations in history have fought in foreign lands and remained to occupy and exploit. Americans, following a battle, want nothing more than to return home. And that is your direction tonight. After service in the Afghan and Iraqi theaters of war — after 100,000 miles, on the longest carrier deployment in recent history — you are homeward bound. Some of you will see new family members for the first time — 150 babies were born while their fathers were on the Lincoln. Your families are proud of you, and your nation will welcome you.

How does the sentence "Our mission continues" support the central idea of the speech?

It supports the idea that service people returning home will be called back out quite soon.
It supports the main point that this is an ongoing fight that America will not abandon.
It challenges the notion that Al-Qaida is an enemy worthy of the human and financial cost of war.
It adds to the idea that it is essential to remove any American military presence in other lands.

Select the correct answer. in this excerpt from "a modest proposal" by johnathan swift, what does the author list? i can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. this i freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. i desire the reader will observe, that i calculate my remedy for this one individual kingdom of ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, i think, ever can be upon earth. therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from laplanders, and the inhabitants of topinamboo: of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing: of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. a. reforms that had failed to improve ireland's situation b. the unrealistic measures discussed by irish government officials c. viable measures that could improve ireland's situation d. measures that would unify the populace of ireland

Which is the best paraphrase of the text? the capability of a bicycle makes some people want to go very fast and others to go very slow. as long as you are careful, feel free to ride like the wind. when feeling brave on a bicycle you should ride fast, but when feeling afraid riding slow is wise. if you are unable to coast, it is pointless to even ride. if you’re going to ride a bicycle, you should throw caution to the wind and take over the road, swerving where you like and taking full advantage of your ride. it’s a real joy to be able to ride a bicycle, where you have the choice of going as fast or as slow as you like, using as much courage as you feel like using.

Select the correct answer. which groups fought in the trojan war? a. mycenaeans and minoans b. greeks and trojans c. minoans and greeks d. minoans, mycenaeans, and trojans