Question

Read the excerpt from "Everyday Survival," in which the author relates a story told by a retired Los

Angeles police officer.
Denial, which psychologists call the "incredulity response." is almost universal, even among
individuals with excellent training. David Klinger, a retired Los Angeles police officer, describes in his
book into the Kill Zone that while moonlighting as a bank guard he saw "three masked figures with
assault rifles run through the foyer of the bank." His first thought was that the local SWAT team was
practicing. His second was that they were dressed up for Halloween.
How does the author use this story as a rhetorical strategy to support his perspective?
Select all that apply.
Everyday Survival
to describe a tragic situation that will appeal to his readers' emotions
to demonstrate his own expertise in having done extensive research into the concept
of denial
to show his readers that denial is such a common human response that it even occurs
in experienced emergency personnel
to explain why police officers always respond to emergency situations as they should

Answer 1

Answer: To show his readers that denial is such a common human response that it even occurs in experienced emergency personnel.

Explanation: The part where the police officer had thought ‘they were dressed up for Halloween’ demonstrates his hesitation in believing the obvious.