Question

The writer is considering deleting the underlined text in sentence 14 (reproduced below). Salt in human sweat is a goat magnet; worse still, some thoughtless and irresponsible people feed the goats directly. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?

a) Keep it, because it makes the argument more persuasive by including language that increases the emotional engagement of the audience.

b) Keep it, because it clarifies the point the writer is making by explaining which people are at the greatest risk of being hurt by the goats.

c) Keep it, because it encourages the audience to identify with the park officials who work to solve the problem rather than the park visitors who make the problem worse.

d) Delete it, because it distracts from the writer’s purpose of emphasizing human safety concerns by using language that focuses blame on human visitors to the park.

e) Delete it, because it contradicts the writer’s claim in sentence 15 that goats behave differently after they are accustomed to human contact.

Answer 1

Deleting the underlined text in sentence 14 is essential to maintain consistency with the claim in sentence 15, ensuring clarity and coherence in the argument about the potential dangers posed by goats in the context of human safety concerns. Here option E is correct.

This is because it contradicts the writer's claim in sentence 15 that goats behave differently after they are accustomed to human contact.

The statement, "some thoughtless and irresponsible people feed the goats directly," implies that goats are always attracted to humans, regardless of their behavior after getting accustomed to human contact.

Deleting this text aligns with maintaining consistency in the writer's argument and reinforces the idea that the goats' behavior can change with regular human interaction, as mentioned in sentence 15. This approach ensures clarity and coherence in the overall message about the potential dangers posed by goats in the context of human safety concerns. Here option E is correct.