| Q1: | What anticipation does the title bring out? |
| Q2: | Baker does not follow the sequence of categories that he presents in his opening sentence. Why does he start with the discussion of objects that break down? |
| Q3: | In general, Baker uses the active voice to describe the inanimate objects, but he shifts to use the passive voice in paragraph 14. Why? |
| Q4: | In what ways do Baker's repeated references to science reinforce or alter his purpose? |
| Q5: | Analyze the style of the essay. Is it formal or informal? How? What about the tone? |
| Q6: | What does Baker accomplish by using the ascending order? |
| Q7: | What is Baker's primary purpose of writing? |
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Baker, Russell. "The Plot Against People." Patterns: A Short Prose Reader. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. 158-60. |