Question

Read this excerpt from a persuasive essay about animal testing. Which two sentences form a hook to draw the reader’s attention?

Somewhere in a claustrophobic laboratory a dog is forced to breathe tobacco smoke. In another lab in another part of the country, a rat is squeezed into a narrow glass tube and forced to breathe in tobacco smoke. Scenes from a horror novel? No, all of this is real. Modern technology has advanced to new heights. Yet scientists continue to perform cruel and painful experiments on innocent animals all in the name of progress. Moreover, most of these experiments on animals have ended up being worthless—scientists don’t even have a good reason to continue with them. We must put an end to it before more animals are harmed.It is time we show humanity to our fellow creatures.


A. Somewhere in a claustrophobic laboratory a dog is forced to breathe tobacco smoke.

B. In another lab in another part of the country, a rat is squeezed into a narrow glass tube and forced to breathe in tobacco smoke.


C. Yet scientists continue to perform cruel and painful experiments on innocent animals all in the name of progress.


D. We must put an end to it before more animals are harmed.


E. It is time we show humanity to our fellow creatures.

Answer 1

Answer: I would say the answer is A and C

Explanation: This persuasive passage uses an emotional appeal to capture the readers, the first sentence is what grabs their attention because they find it emotionally disturbing and cruel. C is what keeps them pursuaded to keep reading because they are wondering “why” and in order to find that out, they are intrigued to finish the passage.

Answer 2

A. Somewhere in a claustrophobic laboratory a dog is forced to breathe tobacco smoke

C. Yet scientists continue to perform cruel and painful experiments on innocent animals all in the name of progress.