Question
Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that high schools should teach basic financial literacy? Most Americans have trouble with their finances evidenced by the fact that only forty percent of adults even keep a budget to track their spending. The level of financial illiteracy in the United States is frighteningly high:many Americans have little to no savings, are knee-deep in debt, and live paycheck to paycheck. Certified public accountant Ben Soto notes that students who are not taught how to manage credit cards often end up overspending.
Answer
4.6
(246 Votes)
Fletcher
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
B
Explanation
This question asks you to identify which statement uses primarily emotional appeal, or pathos, in arguing for high schools teaching basic financial literacy. Pathos is a rhetorical appeal to an audience's sentiments, emotions, and sympathies. Each of the listed statements argues for the issue considering different angles, but only one specifically appeals to individuals' feelings. Therefore, let's analyze each statement: 1. The first statement combines a fact about the financial situations of many Americans (only forty percent budget their salaries) indicating lack of financial acuity, which appeals to logos or factual and logical argument not pathos. 2. The second statement employs words,addressing high level of financial illiteracy in countries, which triggers a sense of panic and worry, which does play on the fears of audience members thereby rendering it to emotional appeal thus pathos. 3. The third statement presents an expert's perspective highlighting overspending of not managed properly, hence again appealing to factual claims, logos, but feelings, pathos.In conclusion, the second statement most notably incites the viewers with promises of societal welfare,effectively using demonstrative emotional call hence a clear case of pathos.