What is a rhetorical question and how might it affect a reader?

• A. A question posed for effect rather than to elicit an answer; it engages the reader, reinforces a point, or challenges assumptions.
• B. A question asked to obtain factual information.
• C. A question that always requires a yes or no answer.
• D. A question used only in dialogues to advance plot.

Answer: (A)

A rhetorical question is a question posed for effect rather than to elicit an answer. It engages the reader, reinforces a point, or challenges assumptions. This means the purpose isn’t to collect information but to provoke thought or persuade. It affects the reader by inviting reflection, signaling the writer’s stance, and highlighting a claim without requiring a reply. For example, asking, “Who among us can honestly say we’ve never failed?” makes the reader pause and consider the issue, strengthening the writer’s point. The other possibilities describe questions meant to obtain facts, or that must be answered with yes or no, or that serve only to advance plot in dialogue; those don’t capture the attention-grabbing, thought-stirring function of a rhetorical question.