Read the passage. what is the meaning of this oxymoron?

Which of these devices is most clearly shown here?

Which statement would you identify as being correct? a. it is important to learn the etymology of every word in a text. b. it is important to understand the etymology of every word in a text. c. it is important to study the etymology of every word in a text. d. it is important to study the etymology of some words in a text.

What is tomas paine's central claim in this excerpt