Question

a look at the fast - food industry by eric schlosser
pre - test complete
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read the excerpt from fast food nation.
every saturday, elisa zamot gets up at 5:15 in the morning. its a struggle, and her head feels groggy as she steps into the shower. her little sisters, cookie and sabrina, are fast asleep in their beds. by 5:30, elisas showered, done her hair, and put on her mcdonalds uniform. shes sixteen, bright - eyed and olive - skinned, pretty and petite, ready for another day of work. elisas mother usually drives her the half - mile or so to the restaurant, but sometimes elisa walks, leaving home before the sun rises.
which of the following choices best describes the rhetorical appeal used in this excerpt?
the excerpt demonstrates logos because it is completely objective and lacking in emotion.
the excerpt demonstrates logos because it contains statistics to support the authors claim.
the excerpt demonstrates ethos because the author positions himself as an expert on the topic.
the excerpt demonstrates pathos because the author presents a compelling story using emotional language.

Explanation:

To determine the rhetorical appeal, analyze each option:

• First option: The excerpt has descriptive, emotional details (e.g., "struggle", "groggy"), so it's not objective/lacking emotion. Eliminate.
• Second option: No statistics are present. Eliminate.
• Third option: Ethos relies on credibility/authority, but the author doesn’t position as an expert here. Eliminate.
• Fourth option: Pathos uses emotional language/stories. The excerpt tells Elisa’s story with details (waking early, family, uniform) to evoke emotion. This matches pathos.

Answer:

D. The excerpt demonstrates pathos because the author presents a compelling story using emotional language.