Question

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: The Pine Grove Museum should build the proposed new wing because it will reflect the city’s diversity and the critics’ concerns (about the building’s appearance and taxpayer cost) are unfounded.

2. b. sentence 3 — it describes a direct benefit: space for community artists to display their work.

3. b. sentences 5 and 6 — they raise two counterclaims: that the wing would ruin the museum’s appearance and that it would cost taxpayers money.

4. d. sentence 8 — it quotes architect Maria Vasquez to address the appearance concern.

5. The argument is somewhat fair but leans toward being biased. It fairly acknowledges the critics’ two main concerns and supplies evidence to counter them (an expert opinion and funding details), but it relies on a single architect’s reassurance and on a pledged funding source without further verification. The writer also uses dismissive language (“they need not worry”), which downplays opposing views rather than fully exploring potential uncertainties (e.g., the stability of donor pledges or the impact of ticket increases).