Final answer:
The word in the passage that acts as an appeal to pathos is one that elicits emotional responses like compassion or empathy. It can be identified by its ability to connect with the audience on an emotional level, influencing their thoughts and feelings.
Step-by-step explanation:
An appeal to pathos seeks to evoke emotional responses such as compassion, empathy, and sympathy from the audience to persuade them. The word from the passage that is an example of an appeal to pathos is likely one that reflects personal hardship or emotional experiences. For instance, recounting the story of a student experiencing anxiety and depression plays on the audience's sympathies, as does the mention of children helping prevent fires, or Kamala's story about the loss of her child due to poverty.
Common emotions targeted by pathos include fear, pity, love, guilt, and anger. The effectiveness of pathos lies in its ability to make the readers feel what the writer wants them to feel, thereby creating a strong connection that can influence their thoughts and actions. Therefore, any word that specifically evokes strong emotions or indicates an emotional appeal could be identified as an appeal to pathos.