Chapter 5/6 - Civic Participation Skills & Resolving Conflicts

Using logical conclusions, the author having expertise, and the source being unbiased are all characteristics of

• an opinion

• irrelevant information

• credibility

• a source of information

Which of these sources is likely to provide the most credible source of information about events taking place during President Obama's administration?

• A novel about the President written by his wife

• A timeline of events that took place during the President's time in office.

• A film made by a Hollywood director who supported President Obama

• A book of essays by former members of the Obama Administration

Which person would provide the most credible description of life under a dictatorship?

• A high-level official in the dictator's government

• A political prisoner recently jailed by the dictator

• The leader of a country who is an ally of the dictator

• A historian who spoke with many people living under the dictator

Community residents must decid whether to expand their current high school building or build a new one to handle a rising student population.

Supporters of a new high school believe that a new building would be less costly for taxpayers than expanding the old one. In evaluating the credibility of this claim, community residents should pay special attention to the

• projected data on costs provided by engineers and accountants

• number of students the new high school can hold

• money spent by supporters of disseminating their point of view

• popularity of the supporters of community leaders

In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States sent troops to the area to protect its ally, South Korea.

What is the best way to find a credible explanation of this event?

• Ask the current leaders of North Korea why their country was invaded

• Read a book by a U.S. general about the war

• Investigate multiple sources dealing with the war in Korea

• Read a U.S. government report on the war

"Most people would agree that Ohio is the best place to live. It has professional football, hockey, baseball, and soccer teams. A recent survey by the Lima News reported that 93% of the city's residents believe that Ohio has the best working conditions for young workers. The Columbus Dispatch and Cleveland Plain Deal support those claims.

• credible

• not credible

"Today, America's infrastructure is underfunded. It is in need of huge sums of money to repair and update its crumbling bridges and tunnels. The American Society of Civil Engineers has documented these shortcomings it is series of reports called, "Failure to Act." The shortfall is forecast to be 1.1 trillion by 2020, increasing to $4.7 trillion by 2040."

• credible

• not credible

"Fast food should never be served in schools. Most fast foods are fried in animal fat. Government reports show fast food has, on average, higher concentrations. of salt an fat than other foods. This contributes to high blood pressure and high cholesterol in many Americans. In addition, obesity is becoming a national concern among young people. High concentrations of salt, sugar, and fat make people's taste buds less sensitive to the flavors of healthy, well balanced meals. Schools need to set an example by encouraging healthy eating habits among children. Therefore, they should not sell fast foods."

Who most likely have written the article above?

• a health science teacher

• a student body President

• the owner of a community fast food restaurant

• the director of a local supermarket

Citizen A's Remarks

"Smoking is dangerous to one's health. A study by the U.S. Surgeon General shows that smoking increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Taxpayers are then required to pay the medical bills to treat people suffering from diseases caused by smoking."

What should someone pay particular attention to if he or she sought to determine the credibility of Citizen A's remarks?

• How well they support his or her position with facts

• Whether or not Citizen A smokes cigarettes or blacks

• The past voting record of Citizen A

• Whether Citizen A pays his taxes on time

Citizen A's Remarks

"Smoking is dangerous to one's health. A study by the U.S. Surgeon General shows that smoking increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Taxpayers are then required to pay the medical bills to treat people suffering from diseases caused by smoking."

Which sentence would you add to Citizen A's comments to further support his or her position on smoking?

• Smoking is not as harmful as some people claim

• Everyone who smokes will eventually die from cancer

• Several recent studies indicate that non-smokers live longer

• People who continue to smoke are acting like fools