Which is a rhetorical question?
1. A man arrives an hour late for a meeting. His boss asks:
Did something happen to delay you? Can we get started now? Why are you so late?
The answer is B. The boss is telling the employee he has been keeping people waiting.
2. A boy is being very annoying. His sister asks him:
Are you asking for a slap? Why are you acting like that? What is the matter with you today?
The answer is A. This is a threat not a question. The sister is saying 'If you don't stop that, I will hit you.'
3. A policeman stops a speeding motorist. He asks:
Do you know how fast you were going? Can I see your driver's license? Why were you in such a hurry?
The answer is A. The policeman is going to tell the motorist how fast he was going, no matter what the motorist says.
4. I say my team will win and it does. I say to my friend:
Did you think I was wrong? Did you enjoy the contest? What did I tell you?
The answer is C. I remember what I said, but I want my friend to tell me.
5. Joe ignores a question three times. Bill asks him:
Why are you not answering? Is there a problem with my question? Are you deaf?
The answer is C. If Bill thought Joe really was deaf, there would be no point in asking the second question.
6. A man says something rude about his mother-in-law. His wife asks:
What did you say? Did you really mean that? Why don't you like her?
The answer is A. The wife heard exactly what the man said. She is telling him to apologize or have an argument.
7. Fred's wife comes home, slams the door and throws her bag across the room. He asks:
Why did you do that? Are you upset? What has made you angry?
The answer is B. Obviously Fred's wife is upset. His question really means 'What is the problem?'
8. A man screams with pain. The dentist asks:
What happened? Do you want more pain-killer? Did that hurt?
The answer is C. The dentist knows the man is in pain. He wants details of the problem.
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Past Tense
Crime
