Reference no: EM133203684
2. Short-response prompt
Read the following excerpt from the article "What a Bad Flu Season Could Cost the US Economy":
Tallying the total cost of flu is difficult. In a 2007 article published
in the journal Vaccine, CDC researchers put the total economic burden at $87 billion annually, in 2003 dollars, counting a statistical measure that puts a dollar value on lost life. Among the costs: 3.1 million days patients spend in hospitals, 10 times as many doctors visits, and 44 million days of missed work. The estimates come with a high level of uncertainty, though: Researchers calculated the total cost in a range from $47 billion to $150 billion a year. The CDC is updating these numbers, but there's no telling when they'll be ready.
Based on the cues you can see in the excerpt (that is, without doing further research), how would you rate credibility of the passage? need a short argument stating whether or not the information seems credible and objective. You are writing an argument, so be sure to include a thesis statement and at least one counter-argument. Use specific details from the passage to support your answer.
3. Short-response prompt
Read the following excerpt from "How to Prepare for a Road Trip":
What Route to Take? Once you've come up with a destination, it's time to plot the course. The United States is crisscrossed with highways that take you across the country from north to south and east to west. For example, on Interstate 80, it's a straight shot from Teaneck, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California; and on Interstate 5, you can cruise all the way from the Canadian border to Mexico, passing through the capital cities of Washington, Oregon, and California. The interstate highway system is great if you just want to get from point A to point B quickly, and only want to stop to refuel and grab snacks on the way.
On the other hand, taking scenic back roads can allow you to see unique and memorable parts of the country that you can't see from the interstates. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through 469 miles of the Appalachian Mountains; Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park tops out at over 12,000 feet in Colorado; and Highway 101 cruises along the Pacific coast beaches, cliffs, and towns for over 1,500 miles. Not to mention the delightfully bizarre attractions you can find off the beaten path, such as:
Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas
The gum wall in Seattle, Washington
The world's largest ball of twine, in Cawker City, Kansas
Life-size chocolate moose in Scarborough, Maine
Foamhenge in Natural Bridge, Virginia
World's Largest Catsup Bottle, in Collinsville, Illinois
State the purpose of this excerpt. Then explain how the author's choice of details and text features support that main idea. Use specific examples from the passage to support your answer.