NAME :

CLASS :
8th Grade Ban the Ban!
DATE :
41 Questions

1. Why was Bloomberg mentioned in both articles?

a) He tried to implement a law banning large b) He implemented a law banning smoking in
sodas. public places.

c) He appointed the members of the New

York Board of Health.

2. Which idea is suggested in both articles?

a) The government should get involved in b) Taking away the option to buy a certain
people's choices. size soda is not right or legal.

c) People have no control when given the

option to consume sugary drinks.

3. Which idea is suggested in both articles?

a) The government should get involved in b) Taking away the option to buy a certain
people's choices. size soda is not right or legal.
c) People have no control when given the
option to consume sugary drinks.

4. Which ideas is suggested in both articles?

a) Placing a ban on smoking in public places b) Obesity, needs to be addressed.
is good because it poses a danger to many.

c) Schools should not sell soda or junk food

to students.
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 5. How does regulating soda size di!er from the smoking
ban?

a) The smoking ban had support, but people b) Public smoking poses a danger to other,
opposed the soda ban. drinking soda does not.
c) People are able to control their urge to
smoke but not drink soda.

6. How does regulating soda size di!er from the smoking

ban?

a) The smoking ban limits WHERE smoking b) Mayor Bloomberg wanted to implement a
can take place, not how many cigarettes state law.
one can buy.

c) Bloomberg was a three-term mayor of

New York City.

7. In Soda's a Problem, which is a main reason the ban on

large sodas failed?

a) The number of contradictions within the b) Fruit juice has as many calories as soda.
law made it impossible to enact.

c) People who wanted more soda could buy

two smaller ones.

8. Which is the best evaluation of the support given for the

claim in Ban the Ban?

a) The reason is unsound and the evidence is b) The reasoning is questionalbe but the
irrelevant. evidence is relevant.
c) The reasoning is sound and the evidence is
relevant.

9. Which describes how the author of Soda's a Problem feels

about the soda band?

a) She believes it is full of inconsistencies. b) She does not think it will be very helpful.
c) She thinks it is a worthy goal of the
government.
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 10. In Soda's a Problem, which describes the authors
perspective of this argument?

a) She believes people are not helpless and b) She sees soda as an addictive substance,
will change their behavior as they learn so people stuggle with too many options.
more about the risks of soda.

c) She says the argument is overstated but

agrees that sugar is hard to resist.

11. Which of these overgeneralizations is the basis for the

argument in Ban the Ban?

a) stating a large sugary drink ban is the b) claiming calorie-count disclosure helps
same as stripping away civil liberties.

12. Which of the following is the most important claim on

which the argument in Soda's a Problem based?
a) Bloomberg attemots ot address a real
problem but overstepped his authority in
trying to eliminate people's choices.
b) The government should step in when
dangerous situations a!ect innocent
people are legal, and soda is not
dangerous.

c) Soda is known to be bad for health and

contributor to obesity, but it is a legal
substance.

13. Which is an example of the logical fallacy of over-reliance

on emotion?

a) What I do not respect is having my civil b) I do respect having my civil liberties

liberties stripped away. stripped away.
c) I agree that obesity is an issue that needs
to be addressed.
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 14. Which is an example of the logical fallacy of over-reliance
on emotion ?
a) I, personally, feel that it goes against b) Bloomberg is interfering in a basic, private
everything this country stands for--we are transaction involving a legal substance.
a country built on freedom.
c) We can not allow our government to make
these kinds of decisions for us.

15. In Ban the Ban, claims that implementing the ban on large
sodas is the beginning of a very slippery slope. Where will
this slippery slope lead?

a) The government will take away people's b) People will be forced to eat unsalted and
freedoms, including freedom of speech. unbuttered popcorn at the movies.
c) New York will become a boring place to
live.

16. Why is Michael Bloomberg mentioned in both "Ban the

Ban!" and "Soda's a Problem but . . ."?

a) He was a three-term mayor of New York b) He tried to implement a law banning large
City. sodas.

c) He appointed the members of the New d) He implemented a law banning smoking in

York Board of Health. public places in New York City.

17. Which of the following ideas are suggested in both "Ban the
Ban!" and "Soda's a Problem but . . ."? Choose two options.
a) The government should be more eager to b) Taking away the option of purchasing a
get involved in people's choices. certain size soda is not right or legal.

c) People have no control when given the d) Placing a ban on smoking in public places
option to consume sugar, especially sugary is understandable because it poses a
drinks. danger.
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 18. According to "Soda's a Problem but . . ." how does the
proposed law regulating soda size di!er from the smoking
ban that was implemented? Choose two options.

a) Public smoking poses a danger to others,
whereas drinking soda does not.
c) People are able to control their urge to
smoke but are compelled to drink large-
sized sugary drinks.
b) The smoking ban had full public support,
but the soda regulations were opposed.
d) The smoking ban limits where smoking can
take place, not how many cigarettes can be
purchased at one time.

19. According to "Soda's a Problem, but…," which is

a main reason the ban on large sodas failed to be
approved?
a) Mayor Bloomberg wanted to implement b) Fruit juice, especially apple juice, has as
the law statewide. many calories as soda.

c) The number of contradictions within the d) People who really wanted more soda could
law made it impossible to enact. simply buy two smaller drinks.

20. If a plan is implemented, which of the following must be

true?
a) The plan is a good idea. b) People voted on the plan.

c) The plan is carried out. d) People will question the plan.

21. Which word means the same as intentions in this sentence?

Paul has good intentions, but in spite of being well-
meaning, he rarely completes a project.
a) goals b) beliefs

c) friends d) tools

22. Which of the following most clearly presents a reason for

someone to intervene? Base your answer on the meaning
of intervene.
a) to stop kids from "ghting over a toy b) to show interest in a new hobby or activity

c) to ask an adult for permission to do d) to question whether a person is telling the

something truth
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 23. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A "rst,
and then Part B.
Part A
Which is the best evaluation of the support given for the
claim in "Ban the Ban!"?
a) The reasoning is sound and the evidence is b) The reasoning is logical but more relevant
relevant. evidence is needed.

c) The reasoning is questionable but the d) The reasoning is unsound and the
evidence is relevant. evidence is irrelevant.

24. Part B
Which of the following quotations from the text provide
the best example of the answer to Part A?
a) I respect being given information that b) I agree wholeheartedly that obesity is an
enables me to make an informed decision. issue that needs to be addressed.
c) Remember the days when New York was a d) Well, it is our responsibility to "ght back
really cool and fun place to live? too.

25. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A "rst,
and then Part B.
Part A
Which best describes how the author of "Soda's a Problem
but . . ." feels about the soda ban?
a) She "nds the politician supporting it b) She does not think it will be very helpful.
admirable.
c) She thinks it is a worthy goal of d) She believes it is full of inconsistencies.
government.
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 26. Part B
Which of these quotations from the text most
clearly supports her perspective?
a) …it's wrong for one man, even an elected b) [A]fter years of sacri"cing their students'
o#cial and even a well-meaning one at health to their desire to raise more money,
that, to dictate to people how big a cup of most [schools] have stopped allowing
sugary soda they are allowed. vending machines stocked with sodas.

c) Bloomberg is playing nanny in the worst d) Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven are
sort of way by interfering in a basic, private overseen by the state and would be
transaction involving a perfectly legal exempt, but a Burger King across the
substance. street would be restricted.

27. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A "rst,
and then Part B.
Part A
The author of "Soda's a Problem but . . ." comments on the
argument that "people are helpless in the face of sugar."
Which best describes her perspective of this argument?
a) She believes people are not helpless and b) She sees soda as an addictive substance,
will change their behavior as they learn so agrees that people struggle when given
more about the risks of soda. too many options.
c) She believes that people are so helpless d) She considers the argument an
they need government intervention to overstatement but agrees that sugar is
make good decisions. di#cult to resist.

28. Part B
Which of these quotations from the text is the most
relevant evidence in support of her perspective?

a) It's bad for you, especially in large b) [A]fter years of sacri"cing their students'
quantities. health to their desire to raise more money,
most [schools] have stopped allowing
vending machines stocked with sodas.
c) Soda consumption is already slipping d) Let's not forget that scientists and even
nationwide. governments have at times pushed people
. . . into eating high levels of re"ned
carbohydrates and sugars. . . .
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 29. Which of these overgeneralizations is the basis for the
argument in "Ban the Ban!"?
a) stating a large sugary drink ban is the b) claiming calorie-count disclosure helps
same as stripping away civil liberties people make informed decisions
c) arguing that the impact of obesity is as bad d) suggesting smoking bans are comparable
as the impact of smoking to the soda ban

30. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A "rst,
and then Part B.
Part A
Which of the following states the most important claim on
which the argument in "Soda's a Problem but . . ." is based?
a) The ban that Bloomberg proposed b) Bloomberg attempts to address a real
included so many problems that it would problem but has overstepped his authority
have been impossible to enact. in trying to eliminate people's choices.
c) Soda is known to be bad for health and a d) The government should step in when
contributor to obesity, but it is a legal dangerous situations that a!ect innocent
substance and should be available to people are legal, but drinking too much
consumers. soda is not dangerous.

31. Part B
Which of these quotations from "Soda's a Problem but . .
." best supports the answer to Part A?
a) [Soda]'s bad for you, especially in large b) Bloomberg is . . . interfering in a basic,
quantities. The evidence against it mounts private transaction involving a perfectly
on a semi-regular basis. legal substance.
c) The inherent contradictions . . . were a d) That still leaves the question of whether
good part of why earlier this week a judge governments or their leaders can begin
stopped the new rules from being dictating the look of an individual's meal. . .
implemented.
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 32. Which of the following quotations from "Ban the Ban!" are
the best examples of the logical fallacy of over-reliance on
emotion? Choose two options.
a) When he insisted on calorie counts being b) What I do not respect is having my civil
posted, I think many of us cringed but, liberties stripped away.
again, it made sense.
c) If, despite all those e!orts, someone d) I, personally, feel that it goes against
chooses to have a sugary drink anyway, everything this country stands for—we are
that is their choice and their right. a country built on freedom.

33. The author of "Ban the Ban!" claims that implementing the
ban on large sodas is the beginning of "a very slippery
slope." According to the author, where will this slippery
slope lead?
a) New York will become a boring place to b) Obesity will become unmanageable in the
live. United States.
c) People will be forced to eat unsalted and d) The government will take away people's
unbuttered popcorn at the movies. freedoms, including freedom of speech.

34. Based on your knowledge of the Latin pre"x ex-,

choose the option that provides an example of something
that would be described as exterior.
a) the bottom branch of a tree b) the outside walls of a barn
c) the upstairs of a house d) the middle of a book

35. The word extract comes from the Latin root meaning "to
pull or draw." Use this information, along with your
knowledge of the pre"x ex-, to choose the correct de"nition
of extract.
a) take out forcibly b) draw a landscape

c) pack something too full d) place something outside

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 36. Which of the following sentences includes one dependent
and one independent clause?
a) Kevin volunteers at the local animal shelter b) While he is there, he helps feed the dogs
on Saturday mornings. and take them for walks.

c) Some dogs love to play with Kevin, but d) Kevin continues to give his time because
others are a little shy at "rst. the dogs need his help.

37. Read the following sentence. Which term correctly

identi"es its structure?
Dana is against adopting a new school policy, which
requires students to wear uniforms, but Sam calls it a great
idea.
a) simple b) compound
c) complex d) compound-complex

38. Which features of the following sentence make it a

compound sentence?
Shana's class raises funds to save the rainforest;
Emmett's class volunteers to clean up the local park.
a) It has one independent clause with a b) It has two independent clauses joined by a
subject and a verb. semicolon.
c) It has one independent clause and one d) It has two independent clauses and one
dependent clause. dependent clause.

39. Read the following quotation from "Three Cheers for the
Nanny State."
John Stuart Mill wrote in 1859 that the only justi"able
reason for interfering in someone's
freedom of action was to prevent harm to others.
Which idea from "Ban the Ban!" and "Soda's a Problem but
. . ." provides the best example of an action that Mill would
"nd acceptable?
a) limiting the use of salt b) posting the number of calories
c) banning smoking in public places d) banning large-sized sugary drinks
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 40. Read the following quotation from "Three Cheers for the
Nanny State."
It's fair to stop us, Mill argued, when we are acting out
of ignorance and doing something we'll pretty de"nitely
regret.
According to the author of "Soda's a Problem but . . ." how
should the government go about "stopping us" from
consuming too much soda?
a) pass the law Mayor Bloomberg proposed b) improve the law that Mayor Bloomberg
proposed

c) provide the public with information that d) allow food corporations to determine the
will help them choose wisely sizes of sugary drinks available

41. Which idea does the author of "Three Cheers for the Nanny
State" promote that is unacceptable to the authors of "Ban
the Ban!" and "Soda's a Problem but . . ."?
a) Banning smoking in public places was b) People should be given information to help
necessary and fair. them make smarter decisions.
c) Believing we are rational beings who d) The government should sometimes
mostly make good choices is an illusion. intervene in order to keep people from
harming themselves.
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 Answer Key
1. a
2. b
3. b
4. a
5. a
6. a
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. c
20. c
21. a
22. a
23. d
24. c
25. d
26. d
27. a
28. c
29. a
30. b
31. b
32. b
33. d
34. b
35. a
36. b
37. d
38. b
39. c
40. c
41. d
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