Vote No on the Highway 85 Extension by Victoria Vail, Tribune staff writer Next week, the city council will consider a proposal to extend Highway 85 by 10 miles. A small coalition of real estate developers have hurried this proposal forward, hoping to capitalize on state tax breaks and reassuring the city that their intentions are good. In truth, however, the proposed extension would hurt our community. It would be bad for downtown businesses, bad for families, and bad for the environment. Bad for Downtown Businesses Developers claim that the land west of town is ripe to be turned into a combined retail/residential area. They say that the extension of Highway 85 would give shoppers access to a greater variety of stores. In truth, though, we already have a great variety of stores downtown—over 200 of them. Many of these businesses have been hurting for several years due to the neglect of the Exit 10 overpass, which has made driving difficult. Extending Highway 85 would give shoppers a reason to avoid downtown altogether—likely dooming many small businesses and leaving buildings vacant. However, the overpass could be repaired at a fraction of the cost of the highway extension. This small investment in city infrastructure would be good for businesses and shoppers alike. In 1-2 sentences, identify the author's point of view and the author's purpose
The author's point of view is against the proposed extension of Highway 85, and the author's purpose is to convince readers to vote against it by highlighting the negative impacts it would have on downtown businesses, families, and the environment.
Our town should double its fines for speeding. Studies show that higher fines result in less speeding, so increasing the fees should improve safety. There is no reason not to do this. If people can afford to pay a $50 fine, then surely they should be able to pay a $100 fine as well. How sound is the reasoning given to support the claim “Our town should double its fines for speeding”? Explain your response in 3 to 5 sentences. (4 points)
The reasoning given to support the claim is somewhat sound, as it is based on the premise that higher fines deter speeding and improve safety. The author argues that if people can afford to pay a $50 fine, they should be able to pay a $100 fine as well. However, the argument lacks additional evidence or data to support the claim that higher fines will necessarily result in less speeding and improved safety. It also fails to consider other factors, such as the effectiveness of enforcement, the impact on low-income individuals, and the potential unintended consequences of doubling fines. Therefore, while the reasoning is somewhat logical, it is not fully convincing or comprehensive.
When cold season approaches, many people take precautions to avoid colds and flu. The flu shot is a first line of defense. Doctor's offices and pharmacies dispense shots. Many clinics, community groups, and public health departments offer free shots. Healthy eating, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep are also important guards against winter illness. The most important step of all, in order to stay well during cold season, is washing your hands frequently. Colds and flu are transmitted through your hands. The most common cold virus is the rhinovirus. You pick up and pass on flu and cold viruses whenever you touch surfaces contaminated by other people. Doorknobs, handles, faucets, food-cart and basket handles, elevator buttons, public phones, tables, and trays, to name a few, can all carry viruses and bacteria. Touching your nose or rubbing your eyes after an outing are the quickest way to pick up germs on your hands. So, pay attention and keep washing! In three to five sentences, identify the main claim of the passage and explain some examples of supports for that claim. Identify a sentence in the second paragraph that contains an irrelevant detail. (4 points)
The main claim of the passage is that taking precautions such as getting the flu shot, practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently, and adopting a healthy lifestyle can help individuals avoid colds and flu during the cold season. Some examples of supports for this claim include the mention of flu shots being available at doctor's offices and pharmacies, the availability of free shots through clinics and public health departments, and the emphasis on washing hands as the most important step to prevent the transmission of cold and flu viruses. An irrelevant detail can be found in the second paragraph: "Healthy eating, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep are also important guards against winter illness." While these are important for maintaining overall health and immune function, they are not directly related to the claim about avoiding colds and flu during the cold season.
The author's point of view is that extending Highway 85 would be detrimental to the community, specifically downtown businesses, families, and the environment. The author's purpose is to convince readers to vote against the proposal by highlighting the negative impacts and suggesting an alternative solution.
