A. Read the following group of ideas. Mark each statement C if it is an author's claim or S if it provides support for the claim.
1. Nonmedical use of narcotic pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives ranks second (behind marijuana) as a category of illicit drug abuse among adults and youth.
2. In 2002, 6.2 million Americans were current abusers of prescription drugs.
3. Fully 13.7 percent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have abused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetimes.
4. Recent data indicates that prescription drug abuse, particularly of opioid pain killers, has increased at an alarming rate over the last ten years.
5. Emergency room visits resulting from narcotic pain-reliever abuse have increased 163 percent since 1995. —Adapted from "U.S. Drug Prevention, Treatment, Enforcement Agencies Take on 'Doctor Shoppers', 'Pill Mills':White House's National Drug Control Strategy Focuses on Prescription Drug Safety." Office of National Drug Control Policy. 1 Mar. 2004
—Adapted from "U.S. Drug Prevention, Treatment, Enforcement Agencies Take on 'Doctor Shoppers', 'Pill Mills':White House's National Drug Control Strategy Focuses on Prescription Drug Safety." Office of National Drug Control Policy. 1 Mar. 2004
B. Read the following list of a claim and its supports. Mark each of the supports R if it is relevant to the claim or N if it is not relevant to the claim. Claim: Parents can be effective in reducing the negative effects of viewing television in general and violent television in particular. Supports: 6. Parents should watch television with their child; not only does watching television with children provide parents with information about what children are seeing, but active discussion and explanation of television programs can increase children's comprehension of content, reduce stereotypical thinking, and increase pro-social behavior.
Claim: Parents can be effective in reducing the negative effects of viewing television in general and violent television in particular.
Supports: 6. Parents should watch television with their child; not only does watching television with children provide parents with information about what children are seeing, but active discussion and explanation of television programs can increase children's comprehension of content, reduce stereotypical thinking, and increase pro-social behavior.
7. If a portrayal is upsetting, simply turn off the television and discuss your reason for doing so with your child.
8. Set an amount of time for daily or weekly viewing (suggested maximum limit is 2 hours per day), and select programs that are appropriate for the child's age.
9. Rating a television program may make that program more attractive to young viewers, creating a "forbidden fruit" appeal.
10. The rating TV-Y indicates a program is suitable for all children to view; TV-MA indicates a program is suitable for mature audiences only. Aidman, "Television Violence: Content, Context, and Consequences," ERIC Digest EDC/14078, 1997.
Aidman, "Television Violence: Content, Context, and Consequences," ERIC Digest EDC/14078, 1997.
