Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: All of the above officials together
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
"Gulliver Travels" by Jonathan Swift is a classic satirical novel often studied in schools. One of the most famous parts of the book is Gulliver visit to Lilliput, a land of very small people with very big political quarrels. In this part of the story, Gulliver falls out of favour at court and faces serious charges, including treason. Literature questions frequently ask about these plot details to check familiarity with the text and its characters. This question focuses on which officials participate in accusing Gulliver of treason.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The setting is the kingdom of Lilliput in the novel.
- The question names several Lilliputian officials: Balmuff, Limtoc, and Lalcon.
- One option suggests that all of these officials are involved in the accusation.
- Another option names the emperor himself, which reflects the political authority in the story.
- We assume standard school level summaries of the Lilliput episodes.
Concept / Approach:
The key idea is that the accusation against Gulliver is not made by a single person alone but arises from a combination of political enemies and jealous officials. In simplified school versions and many question banks, Balmuff, Limtoc, and Lalcon are all presented as taking part in the charges against Gulliver. This reflects the theme in the novel that political decisions can be driven by a group of ambitious or fearful advisers, not just the ruler. The approach is to recognise that the question groups these officials together and to see that the correct option is the one that includes all of them rather than isolating only one name.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question lists Balmuff, Limtoc, and Lalcon as separate options and then provides an option that combines all three.
Step 2: Recall from simplified school versions of the story that several leading figures at the Lilliputian court turn against Gulliver due to fear, jealousy, and political rivalry.
Step 3: The charges, including treason, are therefore not the action of just one official but the result of a group effort.
Step 4: Option A selects only Balmuff, option B selects only Limtoc, and option C selects only Lalcon, which do not reflect the group nature of the accusation.
Step 5: Option D, "All of the above officials together", recognises that all three are involved in bringing the charge of treason.
Step 6: Option E, "The emperor of the island nation", seems powerful, but the question specifically points to the officials named, not to the ruler alone.
Step 7: Therefore, the best answer matching standard exam keys is that all of these officials accuse Gulliver of treason together.
Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks and question banks that retell "Gulliver Travels" for exams frequently highlight how several ministers and important figures in Lilliput unite against Gulliver when they feel threatened by his size and his influence. This pattern supports the idea that the treason case is pushed forward by multiple officials. The presence of the "All of the above" option in many standard multiple choice questions about this episode is also a clue that the exam expects students to remember group involvement rather than a single person acting alone.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Balmuff alone: Selecting only one official ignores the fact that several advisers and leaders are shown as plotting against Gulliver.
Limtoc alone: While Limtoc may have a role in the story, the accusation in standard summaries is not presented as the act of this one official only.
Lalcon alone: This also narrows down the blame incorrectly to a single named individual.
The emperor alone: The emperor is an important figure, but the question highlights the group of officials and the available answer that combines them is more accurate in the exam context.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick a single name that feels familiar instead of noticing the "All of the above" option. Another common mistake is to assume that the emperor must be the one who directly accuses Gulliver because he is the highest authority. In many exam questions based on literature, however, the conflict is driven by ministers and advisers, and the presence of "all of these officials" as an option usually hints that several characters act together. Reading summaries carefully and paying attention to how question setters rephrase the story helps avoid such confusion.
Final Answer:
In the Lilliput episode of "Gulliver Travels", Gulliver is accused of treason by all of the above officials together, namely Balmuff, Limtoc, and Lalcon.
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