Question

CHARACTERISTICS AND STRUCTURES OF ARGUMENTS
DIRECTIONS: Read the passage. Then, answer the questions that follow.
(1) Every city needs a cultural center that reflects its community. (2) Pine Grove is a diverse
city, and the Pine Grove Museum plans to create a new wing to reflect this diversity.
(3) The new wing will reflect the community's diversity by providing a space for artists from
the community to display their work. (4) The new wing will also feature a classroom in
which students will be able to learn about different styles of art as well as art from different
cultures.
(5) Critics of the proposed new wing say it would ruin the appearance of the Pine Grove
Museum, a historic building constructed in 1878. (6) They also worry that the project will
cost taxpayers money needed for other projects. (7) However, they need not worry.
(8) According to Maria Vasquez from the architecture firm Vasquez and Associates, “The
proposed wing would blend in perfectly with the existing museum and look as if it were built
in the nineteenth century.” (9) In addition, the funds for the new wing would not come from
tax revenue. (10) According to a recent report by Pine Grove's city planning office, a group
of corporate donors has pledged to pay 80 percent of the cost of the new wing. (11) The
remaining 20 percent will come from community fundraisers and a small increase in
museum ticket prices.
1. What is the writer’s claim in this passage?
2. Which sentence acts as evidence for the writer’s claim by showing the benefits
of the proposed new wing for the museum?
a. sentence 1 b. sentence 3 c. sentence 5 d. sentence 9
3. In which sentences does the writer state two possible counterclaims?
a. sentences 4 and 5 c. sentences 1 and 9
b. sentences 5 and 6 d. sentences 3 and 10
4. In which sentence does the writer include an expert’s opinion as evidence to address a
counterclaim?
a. sentence 3 b. sentence 5 c. sentence 10 d. sentence 8
5. Does the writer’s argument seem to be fair or biased? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1. The writer’s claim is that the Pine Grove Museum’s proposed new wing is a good idea that will reflect the community’s diversity and that critics’ worries (about appearance and taxpayer costs) are unwarranted.

2. b. sentence 3

3. b. sentences 5 and 6

4. d. sentence 8

5. The argument is mostly fair but somewhat biased. Fair: the writer acknowledges critics’ objections and responds to them with an expert opinion and funding information. Biased: the passage only presents evidence supporting the new wing (one expert and a funding pledge) and does not provide opposing evidence, alternative expert views, or discussion of potential uncertainties (e.g., fundraising risks), so it leans toward the pro‑wing position.