Analyzing Arguments and Structure

Read the passage.

excerpt from "Why Equal Pay is Worth Fighting For" by Senator Elizabeth Warren, April 17, 2014

Women today still earn only 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and they're taking a hit in nearly every occupation. Bloomberg analyzed Census data and found that median earnings for women were lower than those for men in 264 of 265 major occupation categories. In 99.6 percent of occupations, men get paid more than women. That's not an accident; that's discrimination.

Does the speaker provide sufficient evidence to prove her point that a wage gap exists?

• Yes, because she presents multiple statistics that indicate a clear distinction between men's and women's earnings.

• No, because although she provides statistics, she doesn't show that the difference in earnings is caused by intentional discrimination

Read the passage.

excerpt from How to Behave: A Pocket Manual of Republican Etiquette by Samuel R. Wells

American children (we are sorry to be obliged to say it) are not, as a general rule, well behaved. They are rude and disrespectful, if not disobedient. . . . Through whose fault comes this state of things? American boys and girls have naturally as much good sense and good-nature as those of any other nation, and, when well trained, no children are more courteous and agreeable. The fault lies in their education. In the days of our grandfathers, children were taught manners at school; a rather rude, backwoods sort of manners, it is true, but better than the no manners at all of the present day. We must blame parents in this matter rather than their children. If you would have your children grow up beloved and respected by their elders as well as their contemporaries, teach them good manners in their childhood. The young sovereign should first learn to obey, that he may be the better fitted to command in his turn. Which statement in the excerpt uses fallacious reasoning?

• "We must blame parents in this matter rather than their children," because the author has specifically discussed the schools' role, not the parents'.

• We must blame parents in this matter rather than their children," because people's faults cannot be blamed on other people.

• "If you would have your children grow up beloved and respected by their elders as well as their contemporaries, teach them good manners in their childhood," because the author says it without any proof.

Read the passage.

excerpt from How to Behave: A Pocket Manual of Republican Etiquette by Samuel R. Wells

Good manners are not to be put on and off with one's best clothes. Politeness is an article for every-day wear. If you don it only on special and rare occasions, it will be sure to sit awkwardly upon you. If you are not well behaved in your own family circle, you will hardly be truly so anywhere, however strictly you may conform to the observances of good breeding, when in society. The true gentleman or lady is a gentleman or lady at all times and in all places, at home as well as abroad, in the field, or workshop, or in the kitchen, as well as in the parlor. A snob is a snob always and everywhere. What is the author's purpose in this passage?

• to persuade people to demonstrate good manners at all times

• to encourage people to embrace the feeling of superiority over others

• to remind people to avoid individuals who occasionally display bad manners

Which revision fixes the mistake in parallel structure in the sentence?

Asking for directions is better than to guess which way to go.

• Asking for directions is better than you guess which way to go

• Asking for directions is better than a guess about which way to go.

• Asking for directions is better than guessing which way to go.

The following sentence has parallel structure. 

Cesar Chavez was a labor activist, a union leader, and a fighter for economic justice. 

• true

• false

Read the passage.

I love dogs, especially my dog, Amber. She is a golden retriever, and she is special! Do you think you can ignore her? No way! If you don't pet her, she'll nudge you until you give in. And don't stop petting her before she's had enough! She'll lick your hand until you go back to work rubbing her ears or scratching her tummy. She also eats everything. I mean everything! Did someone leave a crayon out? A plastic action figure? Amber will eat them. (Her definition of junk food is different from ours.) She also eats anything that is even remotely connected with food—candy wrappers; cereal box linings; bags that formerly held cookies, fruit, or vegetables. Who says dogs don't like broccoli? You can come over to my house and visit her. Just don't lose track of anything that will fit in Amber's mouth. As I said, she's special. Which element makes the passage informal?

• exclamation marks

• precise language

• objective tone

Which sentence would be most appropriate for a book report?

• The book captures the spirit of country life in the eighteenth century.

• This book is as dull as the day is long

• The writer included many fascinating facts about England!

• The writer's too interested in scenery to interest me.