Question

What claim is the speaker making in this passage?


A. He argues that America is the strongest, most economically powerful nation in the world.

B. He argues that war cannot be avoided.

C. He argues that America has almost reached its goal.

D. He argues that America must pursue the path of respect, trust, and peace.
What evidence does the speaker use to support this claim?


A. He says that “a lasting peace” is in sight.

B. “Steady progress” has been made toward peace.

C. The alternative to peace is the “certain agony” of war.

D. He says that the weakest nations “must come to the conference table with confidence.”
What type of reasoning does the speaker use to support this claim?


A. abductive reasoning

B. deductive reasoning

C. hasty generalization

D. ad hominem
BEST: FL-ELA.7.R.2.4

Answer 1

Answers
1) D — He argues that America must pursue the path of respect, trust, and peace.
- The passage urges constructive international behavior (confidence at the conference table, avoiding the “certain agony” of war), which is a call to pursue peace and trust.

2) D — He says that the weakest nations “must come to the conference table with confidence.”
- That line directly supports the claim about pursuing respect, trust, and peace by showing the speaker wants diplomatic confidence and respectful negotiation.

3) A — abductive reasoning.
- The speaker infers the best explanation (that peace can be achieved if nations act with respect and confidence) from the available evidence (progress toward peace and the dangers of war), which is inference to the best explanation rather than strict deduction or a fallacious generalization.