Use the paragraph from a speaker's argument to answer the questions.

Question

You have probably heard the saying that a dog is a man’s best friend. But have you ever stopped to consider why? There are many health benefits from owning a pet for both children and adults alike. For instance, pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer trips to their doctors than those without pets. This might be because owning a pet tends to make people feel good. Dogs provide loyal companionship, which can help combat loneliness and depression in older adults. Also, owning a pet can motivate a person to get outside and exercise and even socialize more with other pet owners.

In three sentences, state the claim the speaker presents in the argument. Explain if the speaker provides relevant evidence to support the claim and sufficient evidence in the argument.
(4 points)

Answer 1

The claim presented by the speaker is that owning a pet has many health benefits for both children and adults, such as making fewer trips to the doctor, combating loneliness and depression, and motivating exercise and socialization. The speaker provides relevant evidence to support the claim by mentioning statistics that pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer trips to the doctor and explaining how owning a pet can combat loneliness and depression. However, the speaker could provide more evidence, such as specific studies or examples, to further strengthen the argument.