Read the excerpt from "Healthy Eating." But no one can ignore the damage being wrought by all this bad eating. More than one out
of three adults in the United States -- 37.5 percent -- are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of the leading causes of death -- heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes -- are directly linked to obesity. And childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. With more than a third of kids between 6 and 19 considered obese, the CDC reports, they are at substantially more risk for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bone and joint conditions, and cancer. How does the author develop her argument in this part of the article? She provides statistics to show how harmful a poor diet can be. She gives several reasons why people should eat healthier foods. She shares anecdotes to show why children need healthier diets. She uses scientific facts to tell why eating habits have changed.
The right choice is A. The author supplies data to illustrate the adverse effects of a poor diet.
Clarification:
In this part of the article, the writer emphasizes the detrimental impacts of unhealthy eating, indicating a strong belief in the necessity of a healthy diet and the negative outcomes of not adhering to it. Additionally, the author supports this notion with statistical evidence, evident in phrases like "Over a third of adults in the United States -- 37.5 percent -- are classified as obese" and "childhood obesity rates have tripled in the last three decades" as these quantitative details highlight the harmful outcomes tied to poor dietary choices. Thus, the author's argumentative method incorporates statistics to reveal the damaging effects of unhealthy eating habits.