Analyzing an Argument in an Editorial

Read the editorial carefully. Which statement best expresses the claim?

Our community has done a wonderful job of creating and participating in forward-thinking, eco-centered recycling programs for many years. It’s time we took the next step and considered community composting. We’ve done a great job with paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic, but now it’s time to address food waste head-on. The latest data show that, of the millions of tons of food scraps discarded every year, only a small percentage—less than 6 percent—is kept out of landfills. It’s time that we joined the thousands of communities nationwide that are composting locally rather than exporting the waste to be processed somewhere else.

The benefits of the program are endless. Besides reinvesting money back into the community, community composting supports local farmers, creates sustainable jobs, and builds community spirit. Let’s focus on our green future and start the process now. Attend the town council meeting tonight and join the discussion.

• Everyone should recycle plastic and paper.

• Food waste is a big problem in the town.

• Community composting should begin soon.

• The town hall meeting should be attended.

Our community has done a wonderful job of creating and participating in forward-thinking, eco-centered recycling programs for many years. It’s time we took the next step and considered community composting. We’ve done a great job with paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic, but now it’s time to address food waste head-on. The latest data show that, of the millions of tons of food scraps discarded every year, only a small percentage—less than 6 percent—is kept out of landfills. It’s time that we joined the thousands of communities nationwide that are composting locally rather than exporting the waste to be processed somewhere else.

The benefits of the program are endless. Besides reinvesting money back into the community, community composting supports local farmers, creates sustainable jobs, and builds community spirit. Let’s focus on our green future and start the process now. Attend the town council meeting tonight and join the discussion.

Which quotations support the author’s claim? Choose three correct answers.

• “Our community has done a wonderful job of creating and participating in forward-thinking, eco-centered recycling programs for many years.”

• “The benefits of the program are endless.”

• “millions of tons of food scraps discarded every year”

• “communities nationwide that are composting locally”

• “Attend the town council meeting tonight and join the discussion.”

People should consider the impact of drones before buying (and flying) one. Think about where you will fly your drone. There’s a difference between flying in close, tight civilization and in the wide-open, vast wilderness. Also, some communities have laws regulating drone use. For example, Florida law requires recreational drones to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Safety should always be of the utmost concern. Flying away from power lines and keeping a respectable distance from people and wildlife will ensure that no one (or no animal) is harmed should the drone operator mistakenly send it in the wrong direction. Drones of the twenty-first century are the Red Ryders of the 1940s. As this device becomes more popular and common, people should take care to be responsible drone operators.

Which idea from the editorial is a juxtaposition?

• Consider the impact of drones before buying and flying one.

• There’s a difference between tight civilization and the vast wilderness.

• Florida law requires recreational drones to be registered with the FAA.

• There is a similarity between drones and the Red Ryders of the 1940s.

People should consider the impact of drones before buying (and flying) one. Think about where you will fly your drone. There’s a difference between flying in close, tight civilization and the wide-open, vast wilderness. Also, some communities have laws regulating drone use. For example, Florida law requires recreational drones to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Safety should always be of the utmost concern. Flying away from power lines and keeping a respectable distance from people and wildlife will ensure that no one (or no animal) is harmed should the drone operator mistakenly send it in the wrong direction. Drones of the twenty-first century are the Red Ryders of the 1940s. As this device becomes more popular and common, people should take care to be responsible drone operators.

Which statement best explains why the writer uses juxtaposition in the editorial?

• to help the reader think about drone safety

• to help the reader understand the difference between lawful and recreational use

• to help the reader visualize how flying a drone will be different depending on the location

• to help the reader think about how a drone can harm people or animals if it is handled incorrectly

People should consider the impact of drones before buying (and flying) one. Think about where you will fly your drone. There’s a difference between flying in close, tight civilization and the wide-open, vast wilderness. Also, some communities have laws regulating drone use. For example, Florida law requires recreational drones to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Safety should always be of the utmost concern. Flying away from power lines and keeping a respectable distance from people and wildlife will ensure that no one (or no animal) is harmed should the drone operator mistakenly send it in the wrong direction. Drones of the twenty-first century are the Red Ryders of the 1940s. As this device becomes more popular and common, people should take care to be responsible drone operators.

Which statement from the editorial is an analogy?

• "Think about where you will fly your drone."

• "Also, some communities have laws regulating drone use."

• "Safety should always be of the utmost concern."

• "Drones of the 21st century are the slingshots of the 1940s."

People should consider the impact of drones before buying (and flying) one. Think about where you will fly your drone. There’s a difference between flying in a close, packed civilization and the vast, wide-open wilderness. Also, some communities have laws regulating drone use. For example, Florida law requires recreational drones to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Safety should always be of the utmost concern. Flying away from power lines and keeping a respectable distance from people and wildlife will ensure that no person or animal is harmed if the drone is steered in the wrong direction. Drones of the 21st century are the slingshots of the 1940s. As this device becomes more popular and common, people should take care to be responsible drone operators.

Why does the writer use an analogy in the editorial?

• to convince readers to think about the impact drones have

• to describe where drones should and should not be flown

• to convince readers to be careful using drones

• to explain why drones should be registered with the FAA

Jamie is writing an editorial for her school newspaper. The school lunch policy bans sugary foods such as cookies, cakes, and chocolate milk from student lunches. Jamie argues that sweet treats should be offered in addition to nutritious foods. She says that sweet treats should be allowed because they are made using sugar, and everyone likes sugar. The school administrators prefer to provide students with apples, grapes, or oranges, which are healthy, nutritious choices.

Which idea from the editorial is a bandwagon appeal?

• "The school lunch policy bans sugary foods."

• "Sweet treats should be offered in addition to the nutritious foods."

• "Sweet treats should be allowed because they are made using sugar."

• "Everyone likes sugar."

Jamie is writing an editorial for her school newspaper. The school lunch policy bans sugary foods such as cookies, cakes, and chocolate milk from student lunches. Jamie argues that sweet treats should be offered in addition to nutritious foods. She says that sweet treats should be allowed because they are made using sugar, and everyone likes sugar. The school administrators prefer to provide students with apples, grapes, or oranges, which are healthy, nutritious choices.

How does the bandwagon appeal affect the editorial?

• It improves the editorial by showing that most students agree with Jamie.

• It improves the editorial by using straightforward facts to support an argument.

• It weakens the editorial, because bandwagon appeal assumes that something is correct because it is popular.

• It weakens the editorial, because bandwagon appeal is best used when the claim is straightforward.