Reasoning and Rhetoric: Judging Validity

Reasoning and Rhetoric: Lesson 1 Judging Validity

RP 8A Lesson 1

Student Questions Begin

Read carefully! One of the questions wants 2 correct answers.

Multiple Choice

More than 97 percent of the water on Earth is salt water. Salt water is mainly in oceans. The world has a great amount of this kind of water, but we cannot drink it. Only a bit more than 2 percent of the water on Earth is fresh water. Most lakes are fresh water. Most rivers are fresh water too. This kind of water has low amounts of salt.

1. Based on what you read, which statement about the water on Earth is correct?

• Most of the water on Earth is salt water.

• Most salt water on Earth is found in lakes.

• Most rivers have high amounts of salt.

• Most of the water in oceans is safe to drink.

Multiple Choice

There are many kinds of drums you can use to play music. One kind of drum is called a snare drum. A snare is a special part of the drum. A snare is a kind of metal wire. It is pulled tight along the bottom of the drum. It gives the drum a loud sound. This drum usually has a long strap that goes around your neck. It keeps the snare drum in front of you. Both of your hands are free to tap the drum.

2. Based on the information in the paragraph above, which statement about a snare drum is correct?

• It makes a high, tapping sound that is very much like a bell.

• To play it, a person must study music and train with a master musician.

• It gets its loud sound from a metal wire on the bottom of the drum.

• To play it, it must be put in a special stand that is connected to a larger drum

Multiple Select

In ancient times, people knew there would be a sunrise each morning. They knew there would be a sunset each night. People began to measure time. They measured it by counting each cycle of the sun. This cycle became the period of time we call a day. Our word “day” comes from an ancient word. The meaning of that ancient word is “to burn.” A day was a cycle of the sun burning in the sky.

3. Based on the paragraph above, which two statements are correct?

• The period of time we know as “night” comes from an old word that means “to count.”

• People began to measure time by counting each cycle of the sun.

• One cycle of the sun is equal to the period of time we call a year.

• The sun gains energy each sunrise and loses energy each sunset.

• The modern word “day” comes from an old word that means “to burn.”

Multiple Choice

How long does it take for a mother bird to build a nest? To build a small, round nest, a small mother bird may need just two or three days. But a big bird needs a big nest. This kind can take a week or more to complete! The smallest bird on Earth builds a nest that is less than one inch across! Big birds can build a home that is many feet wide.

4. Based on the paragraph above, which statement is correct?

• Nests are built by male birds only.

• The size of the nest depends on the size of the bird.

• Nests built in high trees last longer than nests built closer to the ground.

• Some birds carry their nests with them if they leave