At a town council meeting a speaker says, "Ridership on Route 9 fell last winter, so the council should cut the route." Which question should a listener ask first?

A student tells the class, "Our cafeteria wastes food. Staff weighed 412 pounds of uneaten food last month. Students clearly hate the menu. The cafeteria opened in 1998." Which sentence is evidence?

Running for student council, a candidate says, "I will keep the library open until 6 p.m. because students need more study time." What must she supply to make the point stick?

At an assembly a speaker says, "Test scores rose the year our school banned phones in class, so the ban raised the scores." Which evaluation of the reasoning is best?

A speaker tells the school board, "This reckless scheme would cut the lunch period by ten minutes." Which phrase is loaded language rather than a neutral description?

A speaker says, "My cousin got a job right after finishing a coding class, so coding classes guarantee jobs." Which evaluation of the evidence is best?

A speaker argues for later school start times. A listener objects that the buses would then run late. Which response actually addresses that counterclaim?

At a hearing, a speaker urging the town to buy new field lights mentions that he owns the company that installs them. How should a listener use that fact?

Arguing for a second crosswalk by the school, a speaker cites three near-misses last month, a traffic count, a letter from the crossing guard, and the school's science award. Which support is irrelevant?

A speaker tells parents, "Students who eat breakfast at school score higher in math, so breakfast should be required." Which follow-up question best tests the reasoning?

A student says, "I asked twelve friends and eleven want a longer recess, so almost the whole school wants it." What is the main weakness of this support?

A speaker says, "Experts agree that our gym floor is unsafe, so it must be replaced this year." Which question should a listener ask first?

A speaker claims the new recycling program failed, offering one photo of an overflowing bin taken on a Monday. Which evaluation of that evidence is best?

At a hearing a speaker supports a curfew by describing how quiet one street became after a neighboring town set one. What would strengthen her argument most?

A speaker says the mural cut vandalism, noting graffiti dropped after it was painted. A listener knows new streetlights went up the same week. Why does that matter?

A candidate says, "Everyone agrees our club needs new equipment, so no one should object to the fee." Which evaluation of this move is best?

A presenter says, "The park closes at dusk. It covers nine acres. It is the most beautiful spot in the county. It reopened in March." Which statement is opinion offered as fact?

A speaker says the new tutoring program works because 60 students passed algebra this year. Which addition would make that argument strongest?

A speaker says, "Some claim the club fee is unfair, but those people never volunteer anyway." How should a listener judge this response to the counterclaim?

At a budget meeting a speaker says switching to online newsletters would "save the district a fortune." Which question should a listener ask first?