Was is a linking verb that is the past tense form of the linking verb is which refers to an event that already happened. If and as if can be related to something that has happen. Suppose has a similar definition with the two verbs. Hence the answer is D. all of the above
The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Although there are no options attached.
The rhetorical device that is being used is ethos, the rhetorical device used to convince the audience using the emotions to persuade people.
The use of ethos affects the way the text is read and understood in that the author is including words and phrases such as " Denying hateful or historically ‘privileged’ voices a platform is thus necessary to make equality effective so that the marginalized and vulnerable can finally speak up—and be heard.”
These chosen ideas used by the author try to persuade the audience to create a kind of feeling and emotions that makes them react accordingly. That is the purpose of ethos.
Let's remember that the other two approaches are pathos and logos. Pathos uses the reputation of the speaker or author to try to convince the audience, while logos appeals to the reason, the logic, to explain something and convince the audience.
