Question 1(Suggested time 40 minutes. This question counts one-third of the total essay section score.)The passage below is an excerpt from a letter written by the eighteenth-century author Lord Chesterfield to hisyoung son, who was traveling far from home. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze howthe rhetorical strategies that Chesterfield uses reveal his own values.Dear Boy, Bath, October 4, 1746Though I employ so much of my time in writingto you, I confess I have often my doubts whetherit is to any purpose. I know how unwelcome advicegenerally is; I know that those who want it most, like5 it and follow it least; and I know, too, that the adviceof parents, more particularly, is ascribed to themoroseness, the imperiousness, or the garrulity ofold age. But then, on the other hand, I flatter myself,that as your own reason, though too young as yet to10 suggest much to you of itself, is however, strongenough to enable you, both to judge of, and receiveplain truths: I flatter myself (I say) that your ownreason, young as it is, must tell you, that I can have nointerest but yours in the advice I give you; and that15 consequently, you will at least weigh and consider itwell: in which case, some of it will, I hope, have itseffect. Do not think that I mean to dictate as a parent;I only mean to advise as a friend, and an indulgentone too: and do not apprehend that I mean to check20 your pleasures; of which, on the contrary, I onlydesire to be the guide, not the censor. Let myexperience supply your want of it, and clear yourway, in the progress of your youth, of those thornsand briars which scratched and disfigured me in the25 course of mine. I do not, therefore, so much as hint toyou, how absolutely dependent you are upon me; thatyou neither have, nor can have a shilling in the worldbut from me; and that, as I have no womanish weaknessfor your person, your merit must, and will, be30 the only measure of my kindness. I say, I do not hintthese things to you, because I am convinced thatyou will act right, upon more noble and generousprinciples: I mean, for the sake of doing right, andout of affection and gratitude to me.35 I have so often recommended to you attentionand application to whatever you learn, that I do notmention them now as duties; but I point them out toyou as conducive, nay, absolutely necessary to yourpleasures; for can there be a greater pleasure than to40 be universally allowed to excel those of one s ownage and manner of life? And, consequently, can therebe anything more mortifying than to be excelled bythem? In this latter case, your shame and regret mustbe greater than anybody s, because everybody knows45 the uncommon care which has been taken of youreducation, and the opportunities you have had ofknowing more than others of your age. I do notconfine the application which I recommend, singly tothe view and emulation of excelling others (though50 that is a very sensible pleasure and a very warrantablepride); but I mean likewise to excel in the thing itself;for, in my mind, one may as well not know a thing atall, as know it but imperfectly. To know a little ofanything, gives neither satisfaction nor credit; but55 often brings disgrace or ridicule.Line
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