From a magazine article: Self-confidence

Answer choices

1. A

   Matches3% picked this

   using extreme cases to evoke an

   The argument definitely uses extreme cases (Hitler / Stalin). Is it to evoke an emotional response? We could quibble over that, but it is definitely meant to create a strong rhetorical effect, and we could call that emotional. It probably does provoke an emotional response, but the author could defend herself by saying, "I'm not trying to get people to respond emotionally. I want them to dispassionately see that if extreme self-confidence gave us the terrible legacies of Hitler/Stalin, then it is a dangerous virtue." I might leave this on a first pass and pick it if it felt like "emotional response" was the hardest thing to match in any of the answer choices.

   3%
2. B

   Matches5% picked this

   introducing value-laden terms, such as

   The author did introduce a value-laden term, by calling arrogance a vice.

   5%
3. C

   Matches6% picked this

   illustrating the danger of

   The author did attempt to illustrate the danger of arrogance; she literally says "the danger of arrogance is evident to all who care to look -- for example, Hitler/Stalin".

   6%
4. D

   Correct83% picked this

   appealing to authority to substantiate an

   Why this is right

   Appealing to an authority means to cite an expert who agrees with the point you're trying to make. Hitler and Stalin are the only people discussed, but they're not cited as experts who agree with the author. The author asserts "Self-confidence is a dangerous virtue". Appealing to an authority would sound like, "As Oprah's psychologist often reminds us, when you're self-confident, you tend to ignore the suffering of others."

   Skill tested: Method · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   83%
5. E

   Matches2% picked this

   implying that Hitler’s arrogance arose from

   The author said that Hitler had an "arrogant self-confidence", and cites Hitler as an illustration of the danger of arrogance, in order to ultimately conclude that self-confidence is dangerous. So the author must be assuming/implying that Hitler's arrogance was the result of self-confidence degenerating into arrogance.

   2%