Evaluating an Argument Practice

Opponents of reusing water have long had the upper hand, said Paul Slovic, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon, because of the "branding problem." People tend to judge risk emotionally, he said, and a phrase like "toilet to tap" can undercut earnest explanations. "The water industry has not been good at marketing reuse," he added. But research has shown that highlighting the benefits of recycled water—and the need—can shift emotions to a more positive reaction and help diminish the sense of risk. Which statement is a correct evaluation of the evidence in the passage?

It is sound because it cites an expert's opinion.

Which sentence would make an effective concluding statement for an evaluation of John Schwartz's article?

Overall, Schwartz's claim that recycled water faces a public image challenge is well argued and supported with strong evidence.

13 percent of adult Americans say they would absolutely refuse to even try recycled water, according to a recent study in the journal Judgment and Decision Making. "A small minority of people are very offended by this, and can slow it down or stop it because of legal and political forces," said Paul Rozin, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies revulsion and a co-author of the study. Which piece of evidence best supports the author's claim?

Thirteen percent of people in a study said they would never try recycled water.

Which reason in this passage shows that it is possible to convince people to use recycled water?

orange county has a successful water program`

In his article, John Schwartz presents the reasoning that wastewater recycling has a public perception challenge to overcome. Which piece of evidence sufficiently supports this reason?

Activists have coined the slogan "toilet to tap" to discourage the use of wastewater.

As California scrambles for ways to cope with its crippling drought and the mandatory water restrictions imposed last month by Gov. Jerry Brown, an array of ideas that were long dismissed as too controversial, expensive or unpleasant are getting a second look. One is to conserve more water; another is to turn nearby and abundant sources of water, like the Pacific Ocean, into drinking water through desalination. Yet another is to recycle the water Californians have already used. And therein lies a marketing challenge that can be even greater than the technological one Which statement best summarizes the claim the author makes in the excerpt?

Convincing people to drink recycled water is a more difficult task than producing it.