Question

authors approach
put an x in the box next to the correct answer.

1. the author uses the first sentence of the article to

a. entertain the reader with a humorous question.
b. inform the reader about spontaneous human combustion.
c. describe the phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion.

1. from the statement \the answers, on the other hand, all fell short,\ you can conclude that the author wants the reader to think that no one

a. took the time to look for satisfactory answers.
b. can satisfactorily explain why fire consumed mary reeser.
c. accepted the answers the experts came up with.

1. in this article, the statement \were i living in the middle ages, id mutter something about black magic\ means that

a. a magician caused mary reeser to burn to death.
b. witchcraft, rather than natural causes, is responsible for shc.
c. people living in the middle ages understood the causes of

1. choose the statement below that best explains how the author addresses the opposing point of view in the article.

a. to scientists who do not accept the idea of shc, the author suggests that laser beams cause the phenomenon.
b. to those skeptical about the causes of shc, the author that body oils and fats could cause the phenomenon.
c. to those who claim that each case of shc has a logical explanation, the author quotes experts who were co bewildered by the cases they had investigated.

Explanation:

Analyze Question 1

The first question asks about the author's purpose in using the first sentence of the article. Based on typical rhetorical analysis of articles introducing spontaneous human combustion (SHC), the opening sentence is designed to hook the reader. A humorous question serves to entertain the reader before diving into the factual or descriptive details of the phenomenon. Therefore, option (a) is the most appropriate choice.

Analyze Question 2

The statement "the answers, on the other hand, all fell short" implies that none of the proposed explanations or answers provided a complete, satisfactory, or universally accepted explanation for the phenomenon (such as the death of Mary Reeser). This directly supports option (b), which states that no one can satisfactorily explain why fire consumed Mary Reeser.

Analyze Question 3

The hypothetical statement "were I living in the Middle Ages, I'd mutter something about black magic" suggests that because modern science struggles to explain the phenomenon, a person in the Middle Ages would attribute it to supernatural causes like witchcraft or black magic due to a lack of scientific understanding. This aligns with option (b), which connects the phenomenon to witchcraft rather than natural causes.

Analyze Question 4

To address opposing points of view regarding spontaneous human combustion (SHC), authors often present scientific counterarguments or alternative physical explanations to those who are skeptical or who hold supernatural beliefs. Explaining how body oils and fats could cause the phenomenon (the "wick effect") is a classic scientific explanation used to address skepticism about SHC, making option (b) the best explanation of how the author addresses opposing viewpoints.

Answer:

Question 1

• (a) entertain the reader with a humorous question. (Correct answer)
• (b) inform the reader about spontaneous human combustion.
• (c) describe the phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion.

Question 2

• (a) took the time to look for satisfactory answers.
• (b) can satisfactorily explain why fire consumed Mary Reeser. (Correct answer)
• (c) accepted the answers the experts came up with.

Question 3

• (a) a magician caused Mary Reeser to burn to death.
• (b) witchcraft, rather than natural causes, is responsible for SHC. (Correct answer)
• (c) people living in the Middle Ages understood the causes of SHC.

Question 4

• (a) To scientists who do not accept the idea of SHC, the author suggests that laser beams cause the phenomenon.
• (b) To those skeptical about the causes of SHC, the author suggests that body oils and fats could cause the phenomenon. (Correct answer)
• (c) To those who claim that each case of SHC has a logical explanation, the author quotes experts who were completely bewildered by the cases they had investigated.