Circus Elephants

What is the author's claim?

• Elephants are interesting animals and the circus is a good place to see them.

• Ringling Brothers circus mistreats its elephants and should stop using elephants in their shows.

• The circus should not include any live animals.

What is the counterclaim?

• The circus does not use inhumane tactics and plans to keep elephants in the shows.

• The elephants should be released to their natural habitats.

• People would stop going to the circus if it did not include elephants.

Select the evidence that supports the claim that the circus shouldn't have elephants. Choose TWO

• This testimony asserts that the elephants are so tightly chained by one front and one hind leg that they cannot turn in place. The circus's own train records, the coalition claims, show that the elephants are chained in railroad boxcars for an average of 26 consecutive hours when the circus travels.

• Feld Entertainment Incorporated is the parent company of Ringling Brothers.

• the coalition says that the circus's use of bullhooks—implements that resemble fireplace pokers—to train and discipline elephants is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Activists say the hooks often inflict wounds that leave scars.

Select the evidence that supports the claim that the circus should have elephants. Choose TWO

• The animal welfare organizations initiated the legal action against Ringling Brothers in 2000.

• Payne said the elephants are restrained "for their own safety" during train rides. This is in order to prevent sudden weight shifts that might derail the freight car. He compared the restraints to seat belts.

• Ringling also defended its use of bullhooks, saying the pointed tools have been used for centuries in Asia to control elephants humanely.

Why does the author include this information?

The circus's own train records, the coalition claims, show that the elephants are chained in railroad boxcars for an average of 26 consecutive hours when the circus travels. Often, elephants are confined for 60 to 70 hours at a time. In some cases, the lawsuit asserts, they are confined for 90 to 100 hours. The coalition's lead attorney is Katherine Meyer. Meyer said some of the elephants spend more than of half their lives in chains.

"It's not fair. It's not humane, what kind of life these animals have to live in order to give a 12-minute performance," Meyer said.

• To support his claim with an expert opinion

• To support the counterclaim that the circus should keep using elephants

• To support his claim by using statistical data

Which evidence from the article is stronger? Choose TWO

A. Lisa Weisberg is a senior vice president at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The ASPCA is one of the organizations in the coalition. "The public should be outraged at the amount of time these animals are forced to be shackled and confined," Weisberg said.

B. Feld Entertainment Incorporated is the parent company of Ringling Brothers. Feld defended its practice of chaining elephants. According to Feld spokesperson Steve Payne, chaining the elephants during transport is legal and necessary.

Payne also said that the coalition is exaggerating the length of time elephants are chained. "The elephants spend the majority of their waking hours socializing [and] exercising, untethered," Payne said.

• A is stronger evidence because Lisa Weisberg is an expert on animal cruelty

• B is stronger evidence because Steve Payne is an expert on animal health

• B is weaker evidence because Steve Payne's company makes money from the circus

• A is weaker because Lisa Weisberg does not like the circus

Why is this an example of a false statement or fallacious reasoning (incorrect reasoning)? Choose TWO

"The elephants spend the majority of their waking hours socializing [and] exercising, untethered," Payne said.

• There is no statistical data to provide evidence that this is true

• The circus train records document that elephants are chained for long periods

• Payne has spent time with the elephants and documented the time they are untethered and socializing.

What implicit values and beliefs are revealed through the author's argument?

• People should go to the circus and see the elephants

• It is okay to restrict animal movement if the animals provide entertainment

• It is not okay to mistreat animals for human enjoyment