Read the excerpt from "tools of the spymaster." general clinton, concerned about what general howe was planning and doing, made use of a mask to write a secret message in a letter to general burgoyne. before writing the letter, clinton had placed an hourglass-shaped mask on a piece of paper and then had formed the secret message within that shape. the unmasked letter had enough false information in it to fool any american who happened to see it. but when burgoyne viewed the letter with the mask, he read clinton's view of the real situation: howe has made a bad move; i don't have enough men to do anything about it. which statement best expresses the central idea of the excerpt?
a. generals were able to send secret messages to each other using a mask.
b. general howe failed to the other generals defeat the americans.
c. the british were better at using codes than the americans.
d. false information in a letter could cause problems for the americans.

Hich line in this excerpt from jonathan swift's "a modest proposal" uses the rhetorical device of irony? and secondly, (there being a round million of creatures in humane figure throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common stock, would leave them in debt two million of pounds sterling), adding those who are beggars by profession, to the bulk of farmers, cottagers and labourers, with their wives and children, who are beggars in effect; i desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner i prescribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as (they have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common sustenance, with neither house nor cloaths to cover them from the inclemencies of the weather,) and the most inevitable prospect of intailing the like, or greater miseries, upon their breed for ever. i profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that( i have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the publick good of my country,) by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich.( i have no children, by which i can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing. reset next)