Deck 13: Persuasion

Question 1

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince someone that the school day should be lengthened, you could say that

A) doing so would increase student achievement.
B) extending the school day would save parents money on after-school day-care costs.
C) a longer school day would solve all of students' problems.
D) lengthening the school day would help keep older kids out of trouble by reducing the amount of time that they are unsupervised by adults.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) Parents should not enter their little girls in children's beauty pageants
(2) First of all, children who participate in these pageants may develop an unhealthy body image.
(3) Studies have found that children who competed in beauty contests are more likely than those who didn't compete to be dissatisfied with their bodies, an attitude that can lead later to eating disorders or other psychological issues.
(4) Another reason to avoid pageants is the cost
(5) Participation requires a lot of money for clothing, props, coaching, and travel, and these expenses quickly add up to thousands of dollars per pageant
(6) Many parents have admitted going into debt to finance their pageant hobby; Rick and Misty Simon of Atlanta, Georgia, for example, say that their credit card debt rose to $30,000 after two years of entering their daughter in a series of local pageants
(7) The most important reason to avoid these pageants, though, is their tendency to sexualize little girls
(8) The "glitz pageants" in particular require young contestants to wear heavy makeup and elaborate hairstyles that adults would wear
(9) They encourage parents to put their children into revealing costumes and then have those kids gesture and dance flirtatiously while wearing inappropriately suggestive facial expressions
(10)Little girls have no business prancing around on stage made up like adult women, winking at the judges, blowing kisses, and swinging their hips. Which of the following sentences offers an example to support a reason?

A) Sentence 3
B) Sentence 6
C) Sentence 7

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The swim-with-dolphin programs popular in tropical resorts have been described as a delightful way to get to know these gentle, intelligent animals
(2) However, people should consider the harmful consequences of swimming with a dolphin and avoid these programs.
(3) For one thing, getting into a pool with a dolphin may result in injuries.
(4) Quite a few participants have suffered from cuts, bruises, cracked ribs, and broken arms because dolphins are wild animals, and they don't always behave in predictable ways
(5) What's more, swimming with dolphins can be harmful not only to humans but also the dolphins
(6) Trainers may say that these playful, permanently smiling creatures are friendly and love interacting with humans
(7) According to marine mammal scientist Dr. Ben Coleman, though, the dolphins in these programs are being held captive, which causes them stress
(8) Their happy expressions mask their true mental and emotional state
(9) Finally and most important, capturing a wild animal and forcing it to perform tricks for humans' amusement is just downright unethical
(10)These animals deserve to live their lives in freedom in the open seas, as nature intended. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The swim-with-dolphin programs popular in tropical resorts have been described as a delightful way to get to know these gentle, intelligent animals
(2) However, people should consider the harmful consequences of swimming with a dolphin and avoid these programs.
(3) For one thing, getting into a pool with a dolphin may result in injuries.
(4) Quite a few participants have suffered from cuts, bruises, cracked ribs, and broken arms because dolphins are wild animals, and they don't always behave in predictable ways
(5) What's more, swimming with dolphins can be harmful not only to humans but also the dolphins
(6) Trainers may say that these playful, permanently smiling creatures are friendly and love interacting with humans
(7) According to marine mammal scientist Dr. Ben Coleman, though, the dolphins in these programs are being held captive, which causes them stress
(8) Their happy expressions mask their true mental and emotional state
(9) Finally and most important, capturing a wild animal and forcing it to perform tricks for humans' amusement is just downright unethical
(10)These animals deserve to live their lives in freedom in the open seas, as nature intended. Which sentence offers a reference to an authority to support a reason?

A) Sentence 4
B) Sentence 7
C) Sentence 10

Question 5

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince someone to buy a particular product, you could say that

A) it lasts.
B) it's competitively priced.
C) it works.
D) the TV commercials that advertise it are funny.

Question 6

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to buy and use a couple of reusable cloth bags for transporting groceries home from the store, you could say that

A) the Kline Corporation, a manufacturer of cloth bags, says that cloth bags are better than paper or plastic bags.
B) cloth bags reduce the trash and pollution created by discarded paper and plastic bags.
C) cloth bags are easy to use.
D) cloth bags are sturdier and won't break as easily as paper and plastic bags will.

Question 7

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The federal minimum wage should be increased to at least $10.00 per hour
(2) First of all, this increase will help families who are living in poverty.
(3) Not only will it provide these people with a fairer and more decent rate of pay for their labor, but it will also decrease their need for welfare, food stamps, and other forms of government support.
(4) Increasing the minimum wage may also stimulate job growth
(5) According to one 2006 study published by the Fiscal Policy Institute, employment in small businesses grew faster in states that boosted their minimum wage above the federal minimum than in states requiring only the federal minimum
(6) This report also found that total job growth was faster in the states with higher minimum wages
(7) That may be because workers who earn more can spend more, which stimulates the economy. Which of the following sentences presents a fact to support a reason?

A) Sentence 3
B) Sentence 5
C) Sentence 6

Question 8

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince someone that your town or city is a great place to live, you could say that

A) your town offers many employment opportunities.
B) you have lived there all of your life, so it's obviously a wonderful place to be.
C) the crime rate is low.
D) your town offers many different recreational activities.

Question 9

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) America's public schools should adopt the principles of Harlem, New York's Promise Academy, three charter schools established in 2004 to revitalize an impoverished urban area through better education
(2) First, public schools should lengthen the school day.
(3) In the Promise Academy schools, the school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and does not end until 4:00 p.m.; furthermore, teachers assign homework in every subject every night.
(4) Putting this kind of emphasis on academic studies in public schools would result in graduates who are better prepared for the challenges of higher education and the workforce
(5) Second, public schools should offer an after-school program like the one at the Promise Academy
(6) In that program, which lasts until 6:00 p.m. for elementary school children and 7:30 p.m. for middle and high school students, young people can get academic help or take additional classes to learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, or explore a new hobby such as photography or chess
(7) If offered a similar program, public school children would be more likely to spend their time in safe, productive activities and less likely to get into trouble
(8) Finally, public schools should replicate what the Promise Academy calls its "culture of achievement and intellectual growth." (9) By creating this type of culture, public schools would increase their student success rates. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a transitional expression that indicates persuasion (reasons)?

A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 5
C) Sentence 6

Question 10

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince parents that their children should do household chores, you could say that

A) doing chores helps to teach kids the value of money.
B) kids who do chores learn responsibility.
C) children who do chores learn practical life skills they'll need later when they're on their own.
D) kids who don't do chores are sure to become bums who will never leave home.

Question 11

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The swim-with-dolphin programs popular in tropical resorts have been described as a delightful way to get to know these gentle, intelligent animals
(2) However, people should consider the harmful consequences of swimming with a dolphin and avoid these programs.
(3) For one thing, getting into a pool with a dolphin may result in injuries.
(4) Quite a few participants have suffered from cuts, bruises, cracked ribs, and broken arms because dolphins are wild animals, and they don't always behave in predictable ways
(5) What's more, swimming with dolphins can be harmful not only to humans but also the dolphins
(6) Trainers may say that these playful, permanently smiling creatures are friendly and love interacting with humans
(7) According to marine mammal scientist Dr. Ben Coleman, though, the dolphins in these programs are being held captive, which causes them stress
(8) Their happy expressions mask their true mental and emotional state
(9) Finally and most important, capturing a wild animal and forcing it to perform tricks for humans' amusement is just downright unethical
(10)These animals deserve to live their lives in freedom in the open seas, as nature intended. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 12

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) Parents should not enter their little girls in children's beauty pageants
(2) First of all, children who participate in these pageants may develop an unhealthy body image.
(3) Studies have found that children who competed in beauty contests are more likely than those who didn't compete to be dissatisfied with their bodies, an attitude that can lead later to eating disorders or other psychological issues.
(4) Another reason to avoid pageants is the cost
(5) Participation requires a lot of money for clothing, props, coaching, and travel, and these expenses quickly add up to thousands of dollars per pageant
(6) Many parents have admitted going into debt to finance their pageant hobby; Rick and Misty Simon of Atlanta, Georgia, for example, say that their credit card debt rose to $30,000 after two years of entering their daughter in a series of local pageants
(7) The most important reason to avoid these pageants, though, is their tendency to sexualize little girls
(8) The "glitz pageants" in particular require young contestants to wear heavy makeup and elaborate hairstyles that adults would wear
(9) They encourage parents to put their children into revealing costumes and then have those kids gesture and dance flirtatiously while wearing inappropriately suggestive facial expressions
(10)Little girls have no business prancing around on stage made up like adult women, winking at the judges, blowing kisses, and swinging their hips. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 13

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The federal minimum wage should be increased to at least $10.00 per hour
(2) First of all, this increase will help families who are living in poverty.
(3) Not only will it provide these people with a fairer and more decent rate of pay for their labor, but it will also decrease their need for welfare, food stamps, and other forms of government support.
(4) Increasing the minimum wage may also stimulate job growth
(5) According to one 2006 study published by the Fiscal Policy Institute, employment in small businesses grew faster in states that boosted their minimum wage above the federal minimum than in states requiring only the federal minimum
(6) This report also found that total job growth was faster in the states with higher minimum wages
(7) That may be because workers who earn more can spend more, which stimulates the economy. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 14

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade a person not to keep a wild animal as a pet, you could say that

A) a wild animal is potentially dangerous.
B) escaped wild "pets" may seriously disrupt local ecosystems.
C) a person who keeps a wild animal is obviously mean and selfish.
D) keeping a wild animal as a pet may be illegal.

Question 15

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) America's public schools should adopt the principles of Harlem, New York's Promise Academy, three charter schools established in 2004 to revitalize an impoverished urban area through better education
(2) First, public schools should lengthen the school day.
(3) In the Promise Academy schools, the school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and does not end until 4:00 p.m.; furthermore, teachers assign homework in every subject every night.
(4) Putting this kind of emphasis on academic studies in public schools would result in graduates who are better prepared for the challenges of higher education and the workforce
(5) Second, public schools should offer an after-school program like the one at the Promise Academy
(6) In that program, which lasts until 6:00 p.m. for elementary school children and 7:30 p.m. for middle and high school students, young people can get academic help or take additional classes to learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, or explore a new hobby such as photography or chess
(7) If offered a similar program, public school children would be more likely to spend their time in safe, productive activities and less likely to get into trouble
(8) Finally, public schools should replicate what the Promise Academy calls its "culture of achievement and intellectual growth." (9) By creating this type of culture, public schools would increase their student success rates. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 16

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince someone to eat at Lou's Famous Barbeque Restaurant, you could say that

A) my mother eats at Lou's.
B) the food at Lou's is very good.
C) Lou's prices are reasonable.
D) the service at Lou's is friendly and fast.

Question 17

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) Parents should not enter their little girls in children's beauty pageants
(2) First of all, children who participate in these pageants may develop an unhealthy body image.
(3) Studies have found that children who competed in beauty contests are more likely than those who didn't compete to be dissatisfied with their bodies, an attitude that can lead later to eating disorders or other psychological issues.
(4) Another reason to avoid pageants is the cost
(5) Participation requires a lot of money for clothing, props, coaching, and travel, and these expenses quickly add up to thousands of dollars per pageant
(6) Many parents have admitted going into debt to finance their pageant hobby; Rick and Misty Simon of Atlanta, Georgia, for example, say that their credit card debt rose to $30,000 after two years of entering their daughter in a series of local pageants
(7) The most important reason to avoid these pageants, though, is their tendency to sexualize little girls
(8) The "glitz pageants" in particular require young contestants to wear heavy makeup and elaborate hairstyles that adults would wear
(9) They encourage parents to put their children into revealing costumes and then have those kids gesture and dance flirtatiously while wearing inappropriately suggestive facial expressions
(10)Little girls have no business prancing around on stage made up like adult women, winking at the judges, blowing kisses, and swinging their hips. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 18

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The federal minimum wage should be increased to at least $10.00 per hour
(2) First of all, this increase will help families who are living in poverty.
(3) Not only will it provide these people with a fairer and more decent rate of pay for their labor, but it will also decrease their need for welfare, food stamps, and other forms of government support.
(4) Increasing the minimum wage may also stimulate job growth
(5) According to one 2006 study published by the Fiscal Policy Institute, employment in small businesses grew faster in states that boosted their minimum wage above the federal minimum than in states requiring only the federal minimum
(6) This report also found that total job growth was faster in the states with higher minimum wages
(7) That may be because workers who earn more can spend more, which stimulates the economy. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 19

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) America's public schools should adopt the principles of Harlem, New York's Promise Academy, three charter schools established in 2004 to revitalize an impoverished urban area through better education
(2) First, public schools should lengthen the school day.
(3) In the Promise Academy schools, the school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and does not end until 4:00 p.m.; furthermore, teachers assign homework in every subject every night.
(4) Putting this kind of emphasis on academic studies in public schools would result in graduates who are better prepared for the challenges of higher education and the workforce
(5) Second, public schools should offer an after-school program like the one at the Promise Academy
(6) In that program, which lasts until 6:00 p.m. for elementary school children and 7:30 p.m. for middle and high school students, young people can get academic help or take additional classes to learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, or explore a new hobby such as photography or chess
(7) If offered a similar program, public school children would be more likely to spend their time in safe, productive activities and less likely to get into trouble
(8) Finally, public schools should replicate what the Promise Academy calls its "culture of achievement and intellectual growth." (9) By creating this type of culture, public schools would increase their student success rates. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 20

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince the reader that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to convince someone to adopt a dog from the animal shelter, you could say that

A) the adoption fee is reasonable and affordable.
B) Miley Cyrus has an adorable Yorkshire terrier.
C) by adopting from the shelter, you could save a dog that might otherwise be put to death.
D) the animal shelter offers a wide selection of animals, so the chances of finding the right pet are very good.

Question 21

Instructions: Read the paragraph below, and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The Camtrex Corporation should provide day care for the children of its employees
(2) First of all, Camtrex workers need such a program.
(3) According to the human resources director, about 850 employees with small children have spouses who also work outside the home; for these workers, day care is a constant problem.
(4) Second, the company would undoubtedly benefit from on-site day care since workers could concentrate more fully on their jobs, secure in the knowledge that their children were nearby and well cared for
(5) A program that benefits both employees and management just makes good sense. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 22

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) Amateur stargazing is an interesting and rewarding hobby
(2) Exploring astronomy builds knowledge about our amazing universe.
(3) It's an inexpensive pastime, too.
(4) All that's needed is a telescope, a book about how to understand what you're looking at, and maybe a membership in an astronomical club
(5) Studying the night sky is free! (6) That's why astronomy is also a great family activity
(7) In fact, looking at the heavens may awaken a love of science in children
(8) Plus, those who star-gaze long enough might even make an important discovery
(9) After all, many amateur astronomers have discovered comets, asteroids, and other heavenly bodies
(10)In 2005, for example, two amateur sky-watchers in New Zealand discovered a new planet 15,000 miles from Earth using only a backyard telescope. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 23

Instructions: Each of the following sentences states what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to support the construction of a new nuclear power plant, you could say that nuclear energy

A) will solve all of America's problems.
B) is a safe, reliable source of power.
C) keeps citizens' heating and cooling costs low.
D) doesn't pollute the environment.

Question 24

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) Amateur stargazing is an interesting and rewarding hobby
(2) Exploring astronomy builds knowledge about our amazing universe.
(3) It's an inexpensive pastime, too.
(4) All that's needed is a telescope, a book about how to understand what you're looking at, and maybe a membership in an astronomical club
(5) Studying the night sky is free! (6) That's why astronomy is also a great family activity
(7) In fact, looking at the heavens may awaken a love of science in children
(8) Plus, those who star-gaze long enough might even make an important discovery
(9) After all, many amateur astronomers have discovered comets, asteroids, and other heavenly bodies
(10)In 2005, for example, two amateur sky-watchers in New Zealand discovered a new planet 15,000 miles from Earth using only a backyard telescope. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 25

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to join a particular club on campus, you might say that

A) meetings are held in the mornings.
B) membership would add a valuable extracurricular activity to his or her résumé.
C) joining would provide opportunities to learn more about a topic of interest.
D) club meetings will give him or her a chance to meet people and make new friends.

Question 26

Instructions: Read the paragraph below, and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The Camtrex Corporation should provide day care for the children of its employees
(2) First of all, Camtrex workers need such a program.
(3) According to the human resources director, about 850 employees with small children have spouses who also work outside the home; for these workers, day care is a constant problem.
(4) Second, the company would undoubtedly benefit from on-site day care since workers could concentrate more fully on their jobs, secure in the knowledge that their children were nearby and well cared for
(5) A program that benefits both employees and management just makes good sense. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 27

Instructions: Read the paragraph below, and answer the question(s) that follow.
(1) The Camtrex Corporation should provide day care for the children of its employees
(2) First of all, Camtrex workers need such a program.
(3) According to the human resources director, about 850 employees with small children have spouses who also work outside the home; for these workers, day care is a constant problem.
(4) Second, the company would undoubtedly benefit from on-site day care since workers could concentrate more fully on their jobs, secure in the knowledge that their children were nearby and well cared for
(5) A program that benefits both employees and management just makes good sense. Select the number of the sentence that supports a reason with a fact.

A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 3
C) Sentence 5

Question 28

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to donate money to a certain charity, you might say that

A) the charity helps people who truly need it.
B) the organization manages its money wisely.
C) donating will provide him or her with a tax deduction.
D) the organization's headquarters are in a brick building.

Question 29

Instructions: Each of the following sentences states what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade parents to enroll their children in piano lessons, you could say that

A) learning to play a musical instrument improves mathematical reasoning.
B) people who play piano are more talented than anyone else.
C) kids who play instruments tend to get higher SAT scores.
D) music training boosts many children's self-esteem by helping them discover hidden talents.