Ethos, Pathos, and Logos IXL I.2

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that economic competition is necessary for a productive society?

A: When competition is high, business can flourish, leading to ever-better products at ever-lower prices.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos to support the position that multitasking is harmful and interferes with people's productivity?

A: According to the late Dr. Clifford Nass, a renowned technology researcher, multitasking leads to inefficiency and disorganized thinking.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos to support the position that companies should not be allowed to market products to children?

A: Advertising research suggests that children have difficulty distinguishing between product advertisements and entertainment content.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that professional athletes should not be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs?

A: Allowing professional athletes to use dangerous performance-enhancing drugs would be the downfall of sports as we know it.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that unpaid internships are exploitative?

A: Although an internship at a prestigious company may certainly offer rewards in the form of education and life experience, this is not enough of a justification for unpaid work.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos to support the position that celebrities should be more involved in politics?

A: Although it is true that most celebrities lack political experience, this drawback is less important than the advantage gained from their name recognition, which could be used to do good in society.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that schools should eliminate long summer vacations in favor of a year-round calendar?

A: Although it may come as a surprise, I would prefer a year-round school schedule to our current system. As an academically competitive high school junior, I would appreciate a shorter summer break, since it would help limit the typical summer "memory loss."

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that all high school students should have summer jobs?

A: Although some high school students surely enjoy having their free time, holding a summer job helps build character and encourages a good work ethic.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that multitasking is a necessary skill in the twenty-first century?

A: Although some researchers note that multitasking is at times counterproductive, the necessity of multitasking in our high-speed, high-pressure world remains.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that plastic water bottles should be banned?

A: As a lifelong environmentalist, I aim to make ecologically responsible choices whenever possible. This is why I avoid disposable water bottles.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that reality television has little artistic value?

A: As noted by musician Elton John, reality television is "killing talent'' in the entertainment business.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that young people benefit from developing friendships with senior citizens?

A: As we age, we gain knowledge, wisdom, and insight, all of which are highly valued in our society; thus, young people would benefit from the mentorship or friendship of our older citizens.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that cooking is a valuable life skill that should be taught in school?

A: Because groceries are relatively cheap in comparison with eating out, and cooking is not a difficult skill to learn, it follows that providing cooking instruction in schools would serve students well.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that keeping a journal can positively affect a person's happiness and health?

A: By expressing ourselves freely through writing, we are able to let go of negative emotions, lightening our spiritual burdens and becoming wonderfully self-aware in the process.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that getting to know your neighbors will improve the quality of your life?

A: During my time as a resident of Hillsboro Community Apartments, I worked hard to become friendly with my next-door neighbors, with whom I eventually became close friends.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos to support the position that high school students should have fewer required classes and more electives?

A: Having worked as a high school chemistry teacher for more than fifteen years, I have seen the positive influence that elective courses have had on my students.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos to support the position that the system of using letter grades is fundamentally flawed?

A: I am lucky to have attended an experimental school that did not use letter grades as indicators of achievement; rather, it used a narrative-based approach that evaluated students on multiple levels, providing a more comprehensive picture of each student's performance.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that high school students should have fewer required classes and more electives?

A: If we want students to become well-rounded citizens who are passionate about lifelong learning, we must allow them to pursue their interests by taking elective courses.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that Americans place too much emphasis on self-reliance and not enough on community?

A: If we, as a community, decided to set aside our isolating independence and share many of life's simple tools—such as lawnmowers, bicycles, or Internet connections—we would be far less wasteful.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that wearable fitness trackers can improve people's health?

A: Imagine seeing your step count at the end of each day, feeling triumphant when you hit a lofy goal and determined to work harder when you fall short.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that Shakespeare is an essential part of the high school curriculum?

A: In my work as a screenwriter, I am frequently inspired by the complex plots, ethical conundrums, and timeless themes that are featured in Shakespeare's plays.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos to support the position that athletes should remain loyal instead of switching teams?

A: Like many committed sports fans, I have been loyal to one baseball team for my entire life, and I expect the same type of team loyalty from its players.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos to support the position that video games can increase users' intelligence?

A: Like many fans of complex, puzzle-based video games, I often find myself feeling both stimulated and challenged as I work my way through a game.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that public school students should be required to wear uniforms?

A: Like many of you, I disliked wearing a uniform in high school; I now realize, however, that wearing the uniform helped me focus on my schoolwork rather than on my clothes.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that more money does not always lead to increased happiness?

A: Like most people, I enjoy the feeling of buying a new gadget, but it turns out that the happiness that we get from a new purchase doesn't last long.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that Americans place too much emphasis on self-reliance and not enough on community?

A: Like most suburbanites, I live in a house with its own yard and fences between my neighbors' properties and mine, which effectively discourages the use of shared space and frequent communication.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that organic farming should be more widely adopted?

A: Many commercially grown foods are treated with harmful synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can poison our soil, our groundwater, and even our food.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that unpaid internships are exploitative?

A: Many companies clearly take advantage of the youth and idealism of students and recent graduates by promoting the unpaid "learning experience."

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that high schools students shouldn't play tackle football due to the risk of dangerous head injuries?

A: My brother Hanson is a dedicated high school football player, and the fact that he has had sports-related concussions more than once increases my concern that this sport could be damaging his health.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that positive thinking contributes to overall emotional well-being?

A: Positive thinking will bring a more radiant smile to your face and generate a welcoming energy that will draw others toward you.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that today's students are asked to do too much homework?

A: Some research has shown that excessive homework can cause headaches and stomach ulcers in overworked students.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that multitasking is harmful and interferes with people's productivity?

A: The effects of multitasking run deep: chronic multitaskers become scatterbrained and perpetually dissatisfied as they switch from one stimulus to the next.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that high schools should teach basic financial literacy?

A: The level of financial illiteracy in the United States is frighteningly high: many Americans have little to no savings, are knee-deep in debt, and live paycheck to paycheck.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that athletes should remain loyal instead of switching teams?

A: The team-switching mentality has become so entrenched that even high school athletes are doing it, causing newspapers to report the end of the beloved "neighborhood team."

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that the winter holiday season has become too commercialized?

A: Though it is understandable why some people find Black Friday appealing, this recent shopping trend, in which stores stay open all night and offer huge discounts, has added considerably to the materialism of the holiday season.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that colleges should not use standardized test scores as an admissions criterion?

A: When I review student applications at the college where I work, I always look first at the essays, which reveal much more about the students than test scores do.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that video games can increase users' intelligence?

A: While age-related memory loss can be devastating, after a few weeks of playing video games, users are often heartened by the cognitive improvements they see.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that more money does not always lead to increased happiness?

A: While it's true that a lack of money can cause stress and unhappiness, it does not necessarily follow that money will lead to more happiness after basic needs are met.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos to support the position that hospitals should serve more nutritious food?

A: While it's true that healthier food can be costly, a hospital that serves more nutritious meals will get a return on its investment in the form of better patient outcomes.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that hospitals should serve more nutritious food?

A: While it's true that healthier food can be costly, a hospital that serves more nutritious meals will get a return on its investment in the form of better patient outcomes.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that the system of using letter grades is fundamentally flawed?

A: While some may believe that grades provide a helpful indicator of student performance, others would argue that letter grades are often arbitrary measures of ability that do little to help students' understanding or motivation in school.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that anonymity on the Internet causes people to behave badly?

A: While working as a journalist for an online newspaper, I grew tired of the unreasonably cynical, negative, and sometimes even threatening comments that were posted—anonymously—on our site.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos to support the position that the American Dream is no longer attainable for most people?

A: With income inequality at its highest point since the Great Depression, achieving the classic American Dream has become increasingly implausible for those with little means.