One Evening, When He Couldn't Sleep, Mr

question 103

Multiple Choice

One evening, when he couldn't sleep, Mr. Bradley turned on the television and saw an infomercial for a new sleep aid. As a critical thinker, Mr. Bradley should be most cautious about this new product if

• A) the product had been subjected to an experimental study and the scrutiny of a peer-review process.
• B) its makers claim it has been "proven" to induce sleep in 80 percent of test participants.
• C) its makers discuss the scientific investigations that have compared it to other effective sleep aids rather than relying on testimonials of those with insomnia.
• D) the results of research connect the efficacy of the sleep-aid to other widely accepted scientific findings.
• E) the advertisement noted several scientifically controlled studies that all found the same results.

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Definitions:

Heat Island

An urban area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities and modifications to the land surface.

Cool Pocket

Areas or microclimates that experience lower temperatures than their surrounding environments, often due to natural or artificial shading and ventilation.

Dust Bowl

A period during the 1930s characterized by severe dust storms, significantly damaging the ecology and agriculture of the US and Canadian prairies.

Transportation

The movement of people or goods from one place to another using various modes such as cars, trains, ships, or planes.