Question

read the sample student claim.

many people claim that cell phones are unsafe and that the damage they cause has yet to be revealed, but the benefits they provide far outweigh any potential and unproven risks.

which best addresses a potential counterclaim?

certain types of cancers take twenty to thirty years to develop, and cell phone studies have only been monitoring this potential connection for ten years or less.
on april 3, 1973, the first mobile telephone call was made by martin cooper, who is now referred to and known as \the father of the cell phone.\
the portability of cell phones increases personal safety by affording people an easier and faster way to call for help in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency.
according to the federal communications commission and the food and drug administration, cell phone use has not been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors.

Explanation:

Analyze the student's claim

The student's claim is: "Many people claim that cell phones are unsafe and that the damage they cause has yet to be revealed, but the benefits they provide far outweigh any potential and unproven risks."
The core argument is that cell phone benefits outweigh their unproven safety risks.

Identify the potential counterclaim

The potential counterclaim acknowledged in the student's statement is that "cell phones are unsafe and that the damage they cause has yet to be revealed" (specifically, long-term health risks like cancer or brain tumors).

Evaluate the options

• Option 1: "Certain types of cancers take twenty to thirty years to develop..." This supports the counterclaim rather than addressing (rebutting) it.
• Option 2: "On April 3, 1973, the first mobile telephone call was made..." This is an irrelevant historical fact.
• Option 3: "The portability of cell phones increases personal safety..." This supports the "benefits" side but does not directly refute the safety/health risk counterclaim.
• Option 4: "According to the Federal Communications Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, cell phone use has not been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors." This directly addresses and refutes the health risk counterclaim using authoritative evidence.

Answer:

• (A) Certain types of cancers take twenty to thirty years to develop, and cell phone studies have only been monitoring this potential connection for ten years or less.
• (B) On April 3, 1973, the first mobile telephone call was made by Martin Cooper, who is now referred to and known as "the father of the cell phone."

<mcq-option>(C) The portability of cell phones increases personal safety by affording people an easier and faster way to call for help in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency.</mcq-correct>

• (D) According to the Federal Communications Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, cell phone use has not been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors. (Correct answer)