Three Cheers for the Nanny State Quiz

Read the dictionary entry. Bound adj 1. certain or extremely likely to happen: 2. having a moral or legal duty to do something 3. tied with rope, cord, string, etc. 4. going in a particular direction or toward a particular end result: Which definition of bound best matches the way the word is used in paragraph 14?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Which statement would the author most likely agree with?

• Government intervention is never necessary

• Government intervention should always be welcomed

• Government intervention is sometimes controversial but potentially beneficial

• Government intervention should be completely eliminated

Part 1

Which audience is the author most likely addressing in this selection?

• Lawmakers who can end the soda ban

• Citizens concerned about public health

• Consumers that oppose the soda ban

• Consumers that don’t care about their health

Part 2

Which sentence from the text best supports the answer to part 1?

• In many ways it hurts to be part of a society governed by laws

• Americans... have a reflexive response to being told what to do, and it’s not a positive one.

• The freedom to buy a really large soda is something we stand to lose... for some people, it’s an absolute loss.

• Why has there been so much fuss about New York City’s attempt to impose a soda ban, or more precisely, a ban on large sugary drinks?

In what way does the information in paragraph 8-10 best support the author's argument for a soda ban?

• By illustrating that people tend to procrastinate and be irrational

• By showing that people can be biased

• By providing evidence that proves that our brains can trick us

• By suggesting that people don’t make good decisions all the time

What challenge does the passage identify regarding decision making?

• People are too emotional

• Information is difficult to process and apply

• Laws are too restrictive

• Choices are too limited

What can the reader infer about people’s reactions to new ideas?

• We tend to resist them, even though they might be a good idea

• We immediately reject them because they’re unfamiliar

• We always welcome them

• We ignore them completely

What are the counterarguments the author recognizes in the selection? Select all that apply.

• People usually know how to make the best decisions for themselves.

• Laws will prevent people from doing anything they want, which can be hurtful

• Some require regular access to large amounts of sugar for their health and wellbeing.

• Some believe you should only interfere when a person’s actions affect others.

What do paragraphs 1-4 suggest about how we see ourselves?

• We are dependent individuals

• We are emotional individuals

• We are free, rational individuals

• We are controlled individuals

What is the author’s purpose for writing this selection?

• To convince consumers that too much sugar is unhealthy

• To prove that the government makes laws to protect people

• To persuade citizens that the soda ban has the public’s best interests in mind

• To explain why New York City implemented a restriction on large sugary drinks