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Ban the Ban/ Soda's a Problem but Practice

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 9mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why is Michael Bloomberg mentioned in both “Ban the Ban!” and “Soda’s a

Problem but …”?

a)

He was a three-term mayor of New York City.

b)

He tried to implement a law banning large sodas.

c)

He appointed the members of the New York Board of Health.

d)

He implemented a law banning smoking in public places in New York

City.

2.

Which of the following ideas are suggested in both “Ban the Ban!” and “Soda’s

a Problem but …”? Choose two options.

a)

The government should be more eager to get involved in people’s

choices.

b)

Taking away the option of purchasing a certain size soda is not right or

legal.

c)

Obesity, along with soda’s contribution to it, needs to be addressed by

legal action.

d)

People have no control when given the option to consume sugar,

especially sugary drinks.

e)

Placing a ban on smoking in public places is understandable because it

poses a danger.

3.

According to “Soda’s a Problem but …,” how does the proposed law

regulating soda size differ from the smoking ban that was implemented?

Choose two options.

a)

Public smoking poses a danger to others, whereas drinking soda does not.

b)

The smoking ban had full public support, but the soda regulations were

opposed.

c)

The city’s Board of Health unanimously approved the smoking ban but

voted against the soda limits.

d)

People are able to control their urge to smoke but are compelled to drink

large-sized sugary drinks.

e)

The smoking ban limits where smoking can take place, not how many

cigarettes can be purchased at one time.

4.

According to “Soda’s a Problem but…,” which is a main reason the ban on

large sodas failed to be approved?

a)

Mayor Bloomberg wanted to implement the law statewide.

b)

Fruit juice, especially apple juice, has as many calories as soda.

c)

The number of contradictions within the law made it impossible to enact.

d)

People who really wanted more soda could simply buy two smaller

drinks.

5.

If a plan is implemented, which of the following must be true?

a)

The plan is a good idea.

b)

People voted on the plan.

c)

The plan is carried out.

d)

People will question the plan.

6.

Which word means the same as intentions in this sentence?

Paul has good intentions, but in spite of being well-meaning, he rarely completes a

project.

a)

goals

b)

beliefs

c)

friends

d)

tools

7.

Which of the following most clearly presents a reason for someone to

intervene? Base your answer on the meaning of intervene.

a)

to stop kids from fighting over a toy

b)

to show interest in a new hobby or activity

c)

to ask an adult for permission to do something

d)

to question whether a person is telling the truth

8.

Which best describes how the author of “Soda’s a Problem but …”

feels about the soda ban?

a)

She finds the politician supporting it admirable.

b)

She does not think it will be very helpful.

c)

She thinks it is a worthy goal of government.

d)

She believes it is full of inconsistencies.

9.

The author of “Soda’s a Problem but …” comments on the argument

that “people are helpless in the face of sugar.” Which best describes her

perspective of this argument?

a)

She believes people are not helpless and will change their behavior as they

learn more about the risks of soda.

b)

She sees soda as an addictive substance, so agrees that people struggle

when given too many options.

c)

She believes that people are so helpless they need government intervention

to make good decisions.

d)

She considers the argument an overstatement but agrees that sugar is

difficult to resist.

10.

Which of these overgeneralizations is the basis for the argument in “Ban

the Ban!”?

a)

stating a large sugary drink ban is the same as stripping away civil

liberties

b)

claiming calorie-count disclosure helps people make informed decisions

c)

arguing that the impact of obesity is as bad as the impact of smoking

d)

suggesting smoking bans are comparable to the soda ban

11.

Which of the following states the most important claim on which the

argument in “Soda’s a Problem but …” is based?

a)

The ban that Bloomberg proposed includes so many problems that it

would have been impossible to enact.

b)

Bloomberg attempts to address a real problem but has overstepped his

authority in trying to eliminate people’s choices.

c)

Soda is known to be bad for health and a contributor to obesity, but it is a

legal substance and should be available to consumers.

d)

The government should step in when dangerous situations that affect

innocent people are legal, but drinking too much soda is not dangerous.

12.

a conclusion that overstates the facts.

a)

Slippery Slope

b)

Overgeneralization

13.

A relatively small first step will lead to a chain of related

events resulting in some significant effect.

a)

Slippery Slope

b)

Overgeneralization

14.

Which of the following quotations from “Ban the Ban!” are the best

examples of the logical fallacy of over-reliance on emotion? Choose two

options.

a)

When he insisted on calorie counts being posted, I think many of us

cringed but, again, it made sense.

b)

What I do not respect is having my civil liberties stripped away.

c)

I agree wholeheartedly that obesity is an issue that needs to be addressed.

d)

We cannot allow our government to make these kinds of decisions for us.

e)

I, personally, feel that it goes against everything this country stands for—we are a country built on freedom.

15.

The author of “Ban the Ban!” claims that implementing the ban on large sodas is the beginning of “a very slippery slope.” According to the author, where will this slippery slope lead?

a)

New York will become a boring place to live.

b)

Obesity will become unmanageable in the United States.

c)

People will be forced to eat unsalted and unbuttered popcorn at the movies.

d)

The government will take away people’s freedoms, including freedom of speech.