AnswersCA-English Language Arts 8 BSynthesizing Ideas in an Informational Text

Faulty Reasoning and Fallacies Answers

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Read the excerpt.Kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables on Earth. However, its bitter taste and time-consuming processing prevented it from becoming a popular snack food until the kale chip was invented. Kale chips are just as nutritious as raw kale but are ready to eat and tastier. Their convenience and trendy marketing have made them one of the best-selling snack foods. A similar approach will easily work with any vegetable, thus making beets the guaranteed next wave in nutritious snacking.

A
The comparison of kale and beets weakens the claim that kale is a delicious and nutritious snack.
B
The exaggerated excitement about kale discourages the audience from accepting the claims made about beets.
C
The unsubstantiated connection between kale and beets weakens the credibility of the rest of the argument.
D
The reasoning distracts from the strong evidence in the argument that kale’s popularity is well deserved.
5

What is the meaning of false dilemma?

A
presenting only two options when more are possible
B
distorting an opposing viewpoint in an extreme way
C
assuming that two things are alike in more ways than they are
D
giving a statement that is illogically connected to a previous idea
6

Read the argument excerpt.Owning a saltwater aquarium is a popular hobby. The exotic beauty of fish for these miniature habitats attracts many people to the pastime. One unusual addition is the lionfish—a particularly striking species with red-and-white stripes, flowy fins, and a series of long spines down its back. Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region where they are a top predator in the coral reefs of tropical waters.Choosing a lionfish for a saltwater aquarium should be a careful decision, though. Some people purchase this unique fish, and then, when they grow tired of the work needed to maintain an aquarium, set the fish free. This action has been a notably distressing problem off Florida and up the Atlantic Coast. Lionfish are a novel species in this region and other animals are confused by their look and behavior. As a result, smaller fish and invertebrates become easy prey for the lionfish. The total irresponsibility of saltwater fish owners has disturbed the ecological balance in the Atlantic. Therefore, aquarium owners who decide to have lionfish or other saltwater fish species are a main cause for environmental damage in the region. There should be immediate and strict regulation on the aquarium fish industry.

A
It blames lionfish’s appearance for causing environmental damage.
B
It points out the benefits and challenges of owning a saltwater aquarium.
C
It creates a false choice between selecting fish species for aquariums or caring for the environment.
D
It exaggerates the impact of releasing saltwater fish to support the argument that regulation is needed.
7

Read the excerpt.The benefits of conducting school year-round greatly outweigh giving students a summer break. With year-round schooling, students can remain active in their learning. A long summer break makes it easy for students to forget what they learned during the previous school year, making it harder to apply learned skills during the next year. Allowing students to have weeks of free time means that their skills will be dulled when they return. With shorter breaks, they will forget fewer skills and be able to start each new year performing at their maximum capability. Summer vacations are death to American education since students will forget everything they learn each year.

A
It weakens the overall argument by distracting from the benefits of year-round school by focusing on what students do with free time.
B
It strengthens the overall argument by pointing out that students’ time spent at school is mostly wasted.
C
It weakens the overall argument by inviting criticism with the exaggeration of the amount of learning students lose in the summer.
D
It strengthens the overall argument by advocating for students’ learning and pushing for best practices.
9

Read the excerpt.Everybody needs a boost of energy at times, and caffeine is an easy way to wake up. Most people in the United States immediately grab for coffee to get a jolt of caffeine. While caffeine in coffee can be a tasty way to energize, caffeine also has drawbacks to healthy living, such as digestive issues, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. A more health-conscious alternative is peppermint oil. Peppermint oil provides an energizing effect that can increase brain oxygen levels and increase performance. Trying to increase focus by drinking coffee instead of using peppermint oil guarantees future health complications.

A
The false dilemma diminishes the author’s credibility by failing to present options other than coffee and peppermint oil.
B
The audience is likely to dismiss the claims because the author criticizes the use of coffee, which most people enjoy.
C
The argument distracts from the strong evidence for peppermint oil because it compares it to coffee, which is too dissimilar.
D
The non sequitur invites criticism because it connects coffee’s and peppermint oil’s effects without showing an actual correlation.
10

Read the excerpt from Jamal’s argumentative essay.If fruit is an essential part of a balanced diet, then milkshakes should be considered a health food. Strawberries are the main ingredient in strawberry milkshakes. By incorporating fruit into the milkshake, it changes from an unhealthy snack to a nutritious treat. Vegetables can even be added to maximize health benefits. Adding milkshakes to the food pyramid would be an asset to all health-conscious individuals.

A
If fruit is an essential part of a balanced diet, then milkshakes should be considered a health food.
B
Strawberries are the main ingredient in strawberry milkshakes.
C
By incorporating fruit into the milkshake, it changes from an unhealthy snack to a nutritious treat.
D
Vegetables can even be added to maximize health benefits.

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