Unit 6 Claims and Evidence Reading Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which sentence integrates quoted evidence most effectively?
The article says, “daily ridership increased by 18 percent.” This is a quote.
“Daily ridership increased by 18 percent,” and public transportation matters.
The transit report supports the expansion claim by noting that “daily ridership increased by 18 percent” after the new route opened.
The new route was successful. “Daily ridership increased by 18 percent.” There are many opinions about routes.
2. A student argues that the school library should remain open later because students need a quiet place to study. Which evidence would provide the strongest support?
A librarian’s statement that the building looks welcoming in the evening
A list of novels that students borrowed during the previous month
A photograph of students standing near the library entrance before school
Usage records and a student survey showing substantial demand for quiet study space after the current closing time
3. Which description best defines a claim in an argumentative text?
A statement the author wants readers to accept and supports with reasons or evidence
A quotation copied directly from any source used by the author
A neutral detail that cannot reasonably be questioned or interpreted
A summary that lists every idea in the text without taking a position
4. An author claims that adding a protected bike lane reduced dangerous traffic conflicts on Oak Street. Which evidence most directly supports the claim?
A survey showing that many residents enjoy riding bicycles on weekends
A description of the paint color used to mark the bike lane
A map showing that Oak Street connects two busy neighborhoods
Before-and-after counts showing fewer recorded traffic conflicts on Oak Street after the lane was installed
5. A survey of 120 students at one high school finds that most respondents prefer digital textbooks. Which revision makes the resulting claim appropriately cautious?
All students learn more effectively from digital textbooks.
Digital textbooks are preferred by every high school student in the country.
Most respondents in this school’s survey reported preferring digital textbooks.
The survey proves that printed textbooks are no longer useful.
6. What is a counterclaim?
A position that challenges or offers an alternative to the main claim
A statistic that proves the main claim without any need for reasoning
A repeated version of the main claim placed in the conclusion
A source citation that appears at the end of a paragraph
7. What is the main role of reasoning in a claims-and-evidence argument?
To replace evidence with the author’s personal confidence
To explain how the evidence supports the claim
To introduce a new topic unrelated to the central claim
To repeat the evidence word for word without interpreting it
8. A writer is investigating whether a city construction project remained within its approved budget. Which source is generally most authoritative for the final cost?
An undated opinion post predicting that the project would be expensive
The city’s audited final expenditure report for the project
A promotional brochure produced before construction began
A resident’s estimate based on the project’s appearance
9. A paragraph claims that native plants require less irrigation than many imported ornamental plants. Which detail is least relevant?
Water-use records comparing native and imported plants in similar plots
Information about how native plants are adapted to local rainfall patterns
Results from a landscaping trial that used equal soil conditions
The year in which the town’s botanical garden gift shop opened
10. A paragraph presents a claim, cites two studies, explains how their findings support the claim, introduces an opposing view, and responds to that view. Which description best captures the paragraph’s structure?
A chronological narrative followed by an unrelated definition
A list of evidence with no connection to an author’s position
An argument supported by evidence and reasoning that also addresses a counterclaim
A neutral summary that avoids comparing competing ideas
11. A school extended library hours in September, and average grades rose by December. A writer concludes that the extended hours caused the entire increase. What is the most important concern about this conclusion?
Grade averages can only be used as evidence when every student earns the same score.
Other changes, such as tutoring or course differences, may also have influenced grades.
Events occurring earlier in the year can never be linked to later outcomes.
A claim about school policy cannot be supported with numerical evidence.
12. A researcher is testing the claim that tree cover reduces daytime summer heat on neighborhood sidewalks. Which evidence is most directly relevant?
Interviews about residents’ favorite neighborhood colors
A count of tree species mentioned in local gardening magazines
Repeated temperature readings from shaded and unshaded sidewalks taken at comparable times and under comparable conditions
Records showing how much the city spent on park benches
13. A notice states: “The riverside trail is closed after heavy rain. Crews will inspect the footbridge on Monday, and reopening depends on the inspection results.” Which inference is best supported?
Officials cannot confirm the reopening until the bridge has been inspected.
The trail will reopen immediately on Monday morning.
Heavy rain permanently damages every riverside trail.
The footbridge has certainly collapsed and must be replaced.
14. Which sentence is an arguable claim rather than a piece of supporting evidence?
The town planted 240 trees along public streets last year.
Air-temperature readings were collected at noon at twelve locations.
Seventy-two percent of surveyed riders supported more frequent buses.
The town should prioritize shaded bus stops in future transportation plans.
15. A principal claims that a later school start time improved attendance. Which evidence would be most sufficient for evaluating that claim?
Attendance data from substantial periods before and after the change, examined alongside other factors that could affect attendance
Attendance figures from one unusually snowy week after the change
One student’s comment that mornings feel less rushed
The new bell schedule printed on the school website
16. A report claims that electric buses are quieter than diesel buses during regular service. Which evidence would best support a reliable comparison?
A passenger’s memory of one unusually loud diesel bus
Repeated decibel measurements from comparable electric and diesel buses operating under similar route conditions
Manufacturer descriptions of electric buses without measurements from diesel buses
Ticket sales from routes that use both types of bus