Question

which statement primarily appeals to pathos to support the position that plastic water bottles should be banned?
given that bottled water sales are already on the decline, an outright ban of plastic water bottles might not be as drastic an idea as some may think.
people need only consider the pain and suffering of animals who die every day from eating or becoming trapped by plastic waste to understand why plastic bottles should be banned.
as a lifelong environmentalist, i aim to make ecologically responsible choices whenever possible. this is why i avoid disposable water bottles.

Explanation:

Pathos is an appeal to emotion. The second statement focuses on the pain and suffering of animals due to plastic waste, which is designed to evoke an emotional response (sympathy, concern) in the audience to support the ban on plastic water bottles. The first statement uses logical reasoning about sales trends, and the third is an appeal to ethos (personal credibility as an environmentalist).

Answer:

B. People need only consider the pain and suffering of animals who die every day from eating or becoming trapped by plastic waste to understand why plastic bottles should be banned.