7.SL.3:Arguments and Claims

Read theargument below from a speech given by a citizen before hiscity council. Answer the questions that follow.

"Every day when I drive to work, I am completely disgusted by the litter that lines the highway. People in this city have no respect whatsoever for the roads theyshare with their fellow citizens. Most of thetrash I see is in the form of food wrappers and soft drink cans. The city council does hardly anything to enforce the laws that exist prohibiting littering. It is time that we, as citizens of the city,demand that anti-littering laws be enforced."

1. Which best describes the speaker's attitude?

  1. angry
  2. cheerful
  3. sad
  4. hopeful

2. Which sentence from the speech states an argument and not a claim?

  1. "People in this city have no respect whatsoever for the roadstheyshare with their fellow citizens."
  2. "It is time that we, as citizens of the city,demand that anti-littering laws be enforced."
  3. "Most ofthetrash I see is in the form of food wrappers and soft drink cans."
  4. "The city council does hardly anything to enforce the laws that exist prohibiting littering."

3. Which sentence from the speechdoes not support the argument and is irrelevant?

  1. "It is time that we, as citizens of the city,demand that anti-littering laws be enforced."
  2. "Most ofthetrash I see is in the form of food wrappers and soft drink cans."
  3. "People in this city have no respect whatsoever for the roadstheyshare with their fellow citizens."
  4. "The city council does hardly anything to enforce the laws that exist prohibiting littering."

4. Which of thefollowing claims gives an example of unsound reasoning?

  1. If I have five pencils and I give you three of them, I will have two pencils left.
  2. If the candy store at theendof Third Street closes, no one will be able to buy candy.
  3. If the bald eagle's habitat is preserved, the number of bald eagles will increase.
  4. If Ronaldretires, his customers will have to find otherhouse painters.

Read theargument below to answer the following question.

"It is very important that we do whatever is necessary to protect lions in the wild."

Which claim gives substantial evidence supporting this argument?

  1. Many international organizations are committed to saving lions in the wild.
  2. While the lion isoften called the "king of the jungle," its habitat isAfrica's plains and savannah.
  3. Lions can be very dangerous creatures to humans, though they do not pose a threat if left alone.
  4. The number of wild lions has fallen considerably due to hunting and habitat loss.