Mar31 Exercise (CRCB12 Arguments)

CRCB C12 Exercises


Exercise 12a pp.395
Read the following version of the fairy tale Cinderella and decide whether the statements that follow it are true, false, or questionable. Provide a reason for each of your answers. For the purpose of this exercise, accept each sentence of the fairy tale as fact and forget about the common version of it. Think about what information each sentence conveys before making judgments about the statements that follow. Afterward you will share your responses with other members of your class. Some will agree with you and some will disagree, and you will see how a harmless fairy tale can turn into an argument.


1. Cinderella had more than one stepsister.
T – Directly stated in the passage.

2. Cinderella’s natural mother was dead.
? – Not enough information provided.

3. The stepmother and stepsisters went to many social events.
? – Passage says that they went to ALL of the important events, it doesn’t say how many. There may have been very few.

4. Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters didn’t buy any beautiful clothes for Cinderella.
? – The passage didn’t directly state that they didn’t buy her beautiful clothes – she may have preferred to be trendy and wear rags.

5. A pumpkin can’t be turned into a gold-plated automobile.
F – The passage directly states that the pumpkin was turned into a gold-plated automobile.

6. The stepmother and stepsisters disliked Cinderella.
T – Directly stated in the passage.

7. Cinderella’s stepmother or stepsisters made Cinderella stay home when they went to the important social events.
? – Not enough information provided – the passage said that she had to stay home, but it didn’t say who made her.

8. The step mother and stepsisters offered to take Cinderella to the Prince’s Ball with them.
? – Not enough information provided.

9. Cinderella walked to the Prince’s Ball.
F – Directly stated that she rode to the ball.

10. Cinderella wanted to go to the Prince’s Ball.
? – Not enough information provided – she may have been pushed into going by the fairy godmother.

11. The stepmother and stepsisters left Cinderella home on the night of the Prince’s Ball.
T – Directly stated in the passage.

12. Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in a carriage drawn by six white horses.
? – Not enough information provided.

13. Although the stepmother and stepsisters had beautiful clothes, they never bought clothes for themselves.
F – Directly stated that they bought themselves beautiful clothes.

14. The stepmother and stepsisters went only to social events that were important.
? – Not enough information provided. Although they went to all important social events, it didn’t say that they went to ONLY important events.

15. Cinderella’s fairy godmother was an evil in disguise.
? - Not enough information provided. Passage doesn’t tell us that she is or isn’t an evil witch in disguise.