Is the reasoning sound?
Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
More Time to Eat at Ferndale (argument)
[1] Ferndale Middle School should lengthen lunch from twenty-five minutes to forty. [2] Last Tuesday, a reporter for the school paper timed the line and found that students at the back waited eleven minutes to be served. [3] That left them fourteen minutes to eat, find a seat and return a tray.
[4] In a survey of sixty students, forty-eight said they often throw away food because the bell rings too soon. [5] The cafeteria's tables were replaced two summers ago with round tables that seat eight.
[6] Lunch was cut to twenty-five minutes in October, and in November the nurse's office reported more stomachaches, so the shorter lunch is making students sick. [7] Some teachers worry that a longer lunch would cut into class time. [8] The school could make up the minutes by shortening the morning announcements, which now take ten minutes.
[9] Forty minutes would give students time to finish a full meal and still talk with friends. [10] Ferndale students deserve a lunch period that matches how long it actually takes to eat a meal.
Ari fills in the 'relevant?' column. Which sentence is a true fact that does not help show the claim?
- [6] Lunch was cut to twenty-five minutes in October, and in November the nurse's office reported more stomachaches, so the shorter lunch is making students sick.
- [2] Last Tuesday, a reporter for the school paper timed the line and found that students at the back waited eleven minutes to be served.
- [4] In a survey of sixty students, forty-eight said they often throw away food because the bell rings too soon.
- [5] The cafeteria's tables were replaced two summers ago with round tables that seat eight.
More Time to Eat at Ferndale (argument)
[1] Ferndale Middle School should lengthen lunch from twenty-five minutes to forty. [2] Last Tuesday, a reporter for the school paper timed the line and found that students at the back waited eleven minutes to be served. [3] That left them fourteen minutes to eat, find a seat and return a tray.
[4] In a survey of sixty students, forty-eight said they often throw away food because the bell rings too soon. [5] The cafeteria's tables were replaced two summers ago with round tables that seat eight.
[6] Lunch was cut to twenty-five minutes in October, and in November the nurse's office reported more stomachaches, so the shorter lunch is making students sick. [7] Some teachers worry that a longer lunch would cut into class time. [8] The school could make up the minutes by shortening the morning announcements, which now take ten minutes.
[9] Forty minutes would give students time to finish a full meal and still talk with friends. [10] Ferndale students deserve a lunch period that matches how long it actually takes to eat a meal. Flaw key. A coincidence taken for a cause: one thing came after another, so the writer says the first caused the second. A rule drawn from too few cases: a few cases are stretched into a rule for everyone. A false either-or: only two choices are offered when more exist. An attack on the person, not the idea: an idea is dismissed because of who said it. A chain of steps with no evidence: one step is said to lead to a worse one with nothing to show it.
Pia fills in the 'sound?' column for sentence [6]. Which flaw from the key fits it?
- A coincidence taken for a cause.
- A false either-or.
- A rule drawn from too few cases.
- A chain of steps with no evidence.
Bike Racks for the Quillon Library (argument)
[1] The town of Quillon should install bike racks outside its library. [2] The library's reading room has a ceiling painted with stars by a local artist in 1998. [3] On a Saturday in May, a volunteer counted nineteen bikes locked to the front railing and the wheelchair ramp. [4] The nearest public bike rack is at the town pool, half a mile down Bell Street.
[5] Library staff report that bikes block the ramp on most weekends, and visitors in wheelchairs have to wait for someone to move them.
[6] Either the town builds a rack at the library, or people on bikes will keep blocking the ramp. [7] A rack for twelve bikes would cost about four hundred dollars, according to a quote from a hardware store in town. [8] The library board has said it cannot pay for one this year, but the parks fund still has money left. [9] The town could also paint lines on the pavement to show where bikes may be locked.
[10] Bike racks would help the library stay open to everyone who wants to visit it, whether they arrive on foot, in a chair or on two wheels.
Bo fills in the 'relevant?' column. Which sentence is a true fact that does not help show the claim?
- [4] The nearest public bike rack is at the town pool, half a mile down Bell Street.
- [2] The library's reading room has a ceiling painted with stars by a local artist in 1998.
- [6] Either the town builds a rack at the library, or people on bikes will keep blocking the ramp.
- [3] On a Saturday in May, a volunteer counted nineteen bikes locked to the front railing and the wheelchair ramp.
Bike Racks for the Quillon Library (argument)
[1] The town of Quillon should install bike racks outside its library. [2] The library's reading room has a ceiling painted with stars by a local artist in 1998. [3] On a Saturday in May, a volunteer counted nineteen bikes locked to the front railing and the wheelchair ramp. [4] The nearest public bike rack is at the town pool, half a mile down Bell Street.
[5] Library staff report that bikes block the ramp on most weekends, and visitors in wheelchairs have to wait for someone to move them.
[6] Either the town builds a rack at the library, or people on bikes will keep blocking the ramp. [7] A rack for twelve bikes would cost about four hundred dollars, according to a quote from a hardware store in town. [8] The library board has said it cannot pay for one this year, but the parks fund still has money left. [9] The town could also paint lines on the pavement to show where bikes may be locked.
[10] Bike racks would help the library stay open to everyone who wants to visit it, whether they arrive on foot, in a chair or on two wheels. Matrix columns. Relevant: does the fact help show the claim is true? Enough alone: could this fact support the claim without any other? Sound: does the writer's step from the fact to the claim have no flaw?
Luz fills in the matrix row for sentence [4]. Which row is right?
- Relevant: no, it is about the pool, not the library. Enough alone: no, it is one distance. Sound: yes, it just gives a distance.
- Relevant: yes, it shows where riders lock bikes. Enough alone: yes, one distance settles it. Sound: yes, it just gives a distance.
- Relevant: yes, it shows where riders lock bikes. Enough alone: no, it is one distance. Sound: no, it assumes riders will walk.
- Relevant: yes, it shows where riders lock bikes. Enough alone: no, it is one distance. Sound: yes, it just gives a distance.
Bike Racks for the Quillon Library (argument)
[1] The town of Quillon should install bike racks outside its library. [2] The library's reading room has a ceiling painted with stars by a local artist in 1998. [3] On a Saturday in May, a volunteer counted nineteen bikes locked to the front railing and the wheelchair ramp. [4] The nearest public bike rack is at the town pool, half a mile down Bell Street.
[5] Library staff report that bikes block the ramp on most weekends, and visitors in wheelchairs have to wait for someone to move them.
[6] Either the town builds a rack at the library, or people on bikes will keep blocking the ramp. [7] A rack for twelve bikes would cost about four hundred dollars, according to a quote from a hardware store in town. [8] The library board has said it cannot pay for one this year, but the parks fund still has money left. [9] The town could also paint lines on the pavement to show where bikes may be locked.
[10] Bike racks would help the library stay open to everyone who wants to visit it, whether they arrive on foot, in a chair or on two wheels. Flaw key. A coincidence taken for a cause: one thing came after another, so the writer says the first caused the second. A rule drawn from too few cases: a few cases are stretched into a rule for everyone. A false either-or: only two choices are offered when more exist. An attack on the person, not the idea: an idea is dismissed because of who said it. A chain of steps with no evidence: one step is said to lead to a worse one with nothing to show it.
Tala fills in the 'sound?' column for sentence [6]. Which flaw from the key fits it?
- An attack on the person, not the idea.
- A chain of steps with no evidence.
- A false either-or.
- A coincidence taken for a cause.
A Skate Park for Marlow (argument)
[1] Marlow should build a skate park on the empty lot on Pine Road. [2] Teenagers now practice in the grocery store parking lot, where the manager has asked them to leave twice this spring because skateboards scratch the pavement. [3] Of the fourteen skaters I spoke with on Saturday, twelve said they would use a park each week. [4] The lot has been unused since 2014, and the town already owns it, so no land would have to be bought.
[5] In 1952, a traveling circus set up its tent on that same lot for one weekend. [6] A park there would also be near the bus stop on Pine Road, so younger riders could reach it without asking for a ride.
[7] Councilmember Brandt argues that a skate park would be noisy for nearby homes. [8] But Brandt has not ridden anything faster than a golf cart, so the objection is not worth hearing. [9] The nearest houses are across a wide field, and a row of trees stands between them and the lot. [10] A skate park would give young people a safe place to practice and would keep them out of the grocery store parking lot.
Esme fills in the 'relevant?' column. Which sentence is a true fact that does not help show the claim?
- [6] A park there would also be near the bus stop on Pine Road, so younger riders could reach it without asking for a ride.
- [3] Of the fourteen skaters I spoke with on Saturday, twelve said they would use a park each week.
- [5] In 1952, a traveling circus set up its tent on that same lot for one weekend.
- [8] But Brandt has not ridden anything faster than a golf cart, so the objection is not worth hearing.
A Skate Park for Marlow (argument)
[1] Marlow should build a skate park on the empty lot on Pine Road. [2] Teenagers now practice in the grocery store parking lot, where the manager has asked them to leave twice this spring because skateboards scratch the pavement. [3] Of the fourteen skaters I spoke with on Saturday, twelve said they would use a park each week. [4] The lot has been unused since 2014, and the town already owns it, so no land would have to be bought.
[5] In 1952, a traveling circus set up its tent on that same lot for one weekend. [6] A park there would also be near the bus stop on Pine Road, so younger riders could reach it without asking for a ride.
[7] Councilmember Brandt argues that a skate park would be noisy for nearby homes. [8] But Brandt has not ridden anything faster than a golf cart, so the objection is not worth hearing. [9] The nearest houses are across a wide field, and a row of trees stands between them and the lot. [10] A skate park would give young people a safe place to practice and would keep them out of the grocery store parking lot. Matrix columns. Relevant: does the fact help show the claim is true? Enough alone: could this fact support the claim without any other? Sound: does the writer's step from the fact to the claim have no flaw?
Noah fills in the matrix row for sentence [9]. Which row is right?
- Relevant: no, it is about houses, not skating. Enough alone: no, it is one worry. Sound: yes, it only describes the land.
- Relevant: yes, it answers the noise worry. Enough alone: no, it is one worry. Sound: no, it stretches a field into a promise of quiet.
- Relevant: yes, it answers the noise worry. Enough alone: yes, noise is the only worry. Sound: yes, it only describes the land.
- Relevant: yes, it answers the noise worry. Enough alone: no, it is one worry. Sound: yes, it only describes the land.
Later Hours for the Dunmore Pool (argument)
[1] Dunmore's town pool should stay open until nine o'clock on summer evenings. [2] The pool now closes at seven, just when many parents get home from work. [3] According to the lifeguard's log, fifty-two people were waiting to swim between six and seven on the hottest night in July.
[4] My neighbor and her two friends swim each evening, so the whole town wants longer hours. [5] The lifeguards say they would work later shifts if the town paid them for the extra time, and two of them have already offered to start in June. [6] The extra hours would cost about nine hundred dollars a week, according to the town's budget office.
[7] Some residents say the noise would bother neighbors at night. [8] But the pool is surrounded by the park, and the nearest house is two blocks away. [9] The pool's main building was designed by a local architect in 1971, and its tiled entrance is a town landmark. [10] A later closing would let working families use the pool they already help pay for.
Jun fills in the 'relevant?' column. Which sentence is a true fact that does not help show the claim?
- [8] But the pool is surrounded by the park, and the nearest house is two blocks away.
- [9] The pool's main building was designed by a local architect in 1971, and its tiled entrance is a town landmark.
- [4] My neighbor and her two friends swim each evening, so the whole town wants longer hours.
- [3] According to the lifeguard's log, fifty-two people were waiting to swim between six and seven on the hottest night in July.
Later Hours for the Dunmore Pool (argument)
[1] Dunmore's town pool should stay open until nine o'clock on summer evenings. [2] The pool now closes at seven, just when many parents get home from work. [3] According to the lifeguard's log, fifty-two people were waiting to swim between six and seven on the hottest night in July.
[4] My neighbor and her two friends swim each evening, so the whole town wants longer hours. [5] The lifeguards say they would work later shifts if the town paid them for the extra time, and two of them have already offered to start in June. [6] The extra hours would cost about nine hundred dollars a week, according to the town's budget office.
[7] Some residents say the noise would bother neighbors at night. [8] But the pool is surrounded by the park, and the nearest house is two blocks away. [9] The pool's main building was designed by a local architect in 1971, and its tiled entrance is a town landmark. [10] A later closing would let working families use the pool they already help pay for. Matrix columns. Relevant: does the fact help show the claim is true? Enough alone: could this fact support the claim without any other? Sound: does the writer's step from the fact to the claim have no flaw?
Milo fills in the matrix row for sentence [3]. Which row is right?
- Relevant: yes, it counts people who want to swim. Enough alone: no, it is one night. Sound: no, it assumes the crowd will return.
- Relevant: yes, it counts people who want to swim. Enough alone: no, it is one night. Sound: yes, it just gives a count.
- Relevant: yes, it counts people who want to swim. Enough alone: yes, fifty-two is a large crowd. Sound: yes, it just gives a count.
- Relevant: no, it counts swimmers, not closing hours. Enough alone: no, it is one night. Sound: yes, it just gives a count.
Later Hours for the Dunmore Pool (argument)
[1] Dunmore's town pool should stay open until nine o'clock on summer evenings. [2] The pool now closes at seven, just when many parents get home from work. [3] According to the lifeguard's log, fifty-two people were waiting to swim between six and seven on the hottest night in July.
[4] My neighbor and her two friends swim each evening, so the whole town wants longer hours. [5] The lifeguards say they would work later shifts if the town paid them for the extra time, and two of them have already offered to start in June. [6] The extra hours would cost about nine hundred dollars a week, according to the town's budget office.
[7] Some residents say the noise would bother neighbors at night. [8] But the pool is surrounded by the park, and the nearest house is two blocks away. [9] The pool's main building was designed by a local architect in 1971, and its tiled entrance is a town landmark. [10] A later closing would let working families use the pool they already help pay for. Flaw key. A coincidence taken for a cause: one thing came after another, so the writer says the first caused the second. A rule drawn from too few cases: a few cases are stretched into a rule for everyone. A false either-or: only two choices are offered when more exist. An attack on the person, not the idea: an idea is dismissed because of who said it. A chain of steps with no evidence: one step is said to lead to a worse one with nothing to show it.
Zee fills in the 'sound?' column for sentence [4]. Which flaw from the key fits it?
- An attack on the person, not the idea.
- A false either-or.
- A rule drawn from too few cases.
- A chain of steps with no evidence.