Evaluating arguments in non-fiction · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Is that argument any good?

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 11-14
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. If a fact is true, it always makes an argument stronger.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Read this argument: 'Our town needs a new library. The old one is too small for everyone who wants to use it.' Which choice gives the stated reason?

    • Our town needs a new library
    • Everyone in our town likes reading more than any other activity
    • The old library is too small for its users

  3. Read this claim: 'Schools should start later because most teens are tired in the morning.' What is the main claim?

    • Most teens are tired in the morning
    • Schools should start later
    • Every student dislikes waking up early

  4. One example is always enough evidence to prove a claim is true.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. A writer claims 'Homework should be banned' and only says 'My friend Sam thinks homework is boring.' Is this enough support for a ban?

    • No, one preference does not justify a ban for everyone
    • Yes, his dislike settles whether homework benefits any student
    • Yes, being a student makes his preference decisive for every class

  6. Mina argues that a school garden could help supply food for the school kitchen. Which sentence directly supports that benefit?

    • A trial garden bed grew carrots that the kitchen used in soup
    • Mina enjoys looking at green plants during her quiet time after school
    • The school building opened forty years ago beside the town's main road

  7. Jae reads one article about a dog that saved its owner, then writes: 'This proves all dogs rescue people.' What is the problem?

    • A newspaper story can never count as evidence about any animal
    • One dog's rescue does not establish what all dogs do
    • The article proves that every dog will rescue someone eventually

  8. Students argue that the school needs more bike-rack spaces. Which report gives the strongest direct evidence of a shortage at this school?

    • I saw a bike fall once, so every bike at school needs a new rack
    • The 10 rack spaces were full, with 40 more bikes on fences
    • My cousin likes the new bike racks at her school in another city

  9. A says keep the school pool: engineers found it safe and repairs within budget. B says close it: many students find swimming boring. Which argument better addresses safety and repair cost when deciding what to do with the pool?

    • B, because enjoyment matters more than the stated safety and cost criteria
    • Both, because preferences and inspections answer the same questions
    • A, because its inspection addresses safety and repair cost

  10. An ad says its sneakers are 'the best because everyone buys them.' Here, 'best' means the soles last longest during running. Which test checks that claim under similar conditions?

    • Compare running distances before each brand's soles wear out
    • Count how many customers bought each brand during the same month
    • Count how many famous runners posted photos wearing each brand
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Is that argument any good? W1-mt_gMSFymQlrW-s1

  1. False · A true fact can be unrelated to the claim. In that case, it adds no support.
  2. The old library is too small for its users · The size problem explains why the writer recommends a new library. The recommendation itself is the claim.
  3. Schools should start later · The writer wants readers to accept later school starts. Morning tiredness is the reason offered for that recommendation.
  4. False · One example can establish that something happened once. It does not always establish a broader claim about everyone or every case.
  5. No, one preference does not justify a ban for everyone · Sam's preference may matter, but it does not establish how homework affects other students or whether a ban is justified.
  6. A trial garden bed grew carrots that the kitchen used in soup · The trial bed produced food the kitchen used. That example supports the claimed benefit. Mina's enjoyment could support a different benefit, but it does not show food supply.
  7. One dog's rescue does not establish what all dogs do · The article concerns one dog. Jae's conclusion concerns all dogs, so it goes beyond the evidence.
  8. The 10 rack spaces were full, with 40 more bikes on fences · The report shows all 10 spaces occupied and another 40 bikes outside the racks. That directly supports a shortage; it does not by itself decide the final solution.
  9. A, because its inspection addresses safety and repair cost · The inspection answers the questions about safety and repair cost. Students' preferences could matter when judging how much students want to use the pool, but they do not answer those questions.
  10. Compare running distances before each brand's soles wear out · The claim is about durability. Comparing distances before the soles wear out tests durability; sales and celebrity photos measure popularity.
Worksheet · LightMySky