Question

comparing arguments from diverse perspectives
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read the passage.
congress needs to pass legislation to protect the endangered species—and all organisms—currently threatened by climate change. all americans realize that these creatures deserve the chance to survive without threats outside of their control. if congress fails to address this today, then we all lose.
which fallacies appear in this passage? select three options.

• an appeal to emotion is used to make congress feel guilty if they do not support the legislation.
• a false dilemma is used to claim that legislation is the only way to protect the environment.
• an ad hominem is used to attack representatives for being distracted when hearing evidence.
• a bandwagon appeal is used to suggest that every american wants to help endangered species.
• a false dilemma is used to introduce the idea that the legislation will save us all.

Explanation:

1. Appeal to Emotion: The passage tries to make Congress feel guilty for not supporting the legislation by emphasizing that creatures deserve to survive, which is an appeal to emotion.
2. Bandwagon Appeal: Stating "All Americans realize that these creatures deserve..." suggests that everyone (the bandwagon) wants to help, so this is a bandwagon appeal.
3. False Dilemma (for the last option): Saying "If Congress fails to address this today, then we all lose" and the idea that the legislation will save us all presents a false dilemma (either pass the legislation or we all lose, ignoring other possibilities). The option "A false dilemma is used to introduce the idea that the legislation will save us all" fits as it presents a binary outcome (legislation saves us, else we lose) which is a false dilemma. Also, the bandwagon appeal option ("A bandwagon appeal is used to suggest that every American wants to help endangered species") is correct as it claims all Americans support it to persuade. The appeal to emotion option ("An appeal to emotion is used to make Congress feel guilty if they do not support the legislation") is correct as it uses the idea of creatures deserving to survive to evoke guilt. The other options: the false dilemma about legislation being the only way to protect the environment is not in the passage (the passage is about endangered species, not the environment generally), and ad hominem is not present as there's no attack on representatives' character.

Answer:

• An appeal to emotion is used to make Congress feel guilty if they do not support the legislation.
• A bandwagon appeal is used to suggest that every American wants to help endangered species.
• A false dilemma is used to introduce the idea that the legislation will save us all.