Extract:
Sunny-Side Up
Most people are familiar with the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin, but not enough attention is paid to the many positive effects of receiving direct exposure to sunlight on a regular basis.
The most compelling argument for increased exposure to sunlight is the need for vitamin D in the human body. Vitamin D is integral for maintaining healthy bones and preventing diseases like rickets and osteoporosis. It is synthesized by the skin when it comes into contact with the UVB rays found in sunlight. In order to ensure you are receiving the proper amount of vitamin D, it is recommended to get 15 minutes of direct exposure to sunlight at least two or three times a week. UVB rays are made less intense when passing through clouds and pollution, and they will not transmit through glass or sunscreen. UVB rays are also less effective the farther you are from the equator. People with darker skin require more exposure to the sun to receive the same amount of vitamin D.
In addition to vitamin D, sunlight will help regulate the circadian rhythms that ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Sunlight helps to prevent an overactive immune system, which may prove useful in preventing autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and lupus. Recent studies have even shown that sunlight can help lessen the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
The negative impacts of excess exposure to sunlight should not be ignored; cancers resulting from skin damage are a real concern that must be taken seriously. But the importance of vitamin D and the other positive impacts of sunlight make a compelling argument for making sure we are spending enough time every week in direct sunlight.
The term compelling, as used in the second paragraph, can best be defined as __________.
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A
reasonable
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B
convincing
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C
common
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D
worthwhile
Compelling means convincing, possessing persuasive power through strong evidence that makes an argument difficult to dismiss.
A) reasonable
Reasonable suggests logical acceptability but lacks the forcefulness implied. "Compelling" carries stronger persuasive weight than mere reasonableness.
B) convincing
Convincing precisely captures compelling's meaning in argumentation contexts: the vitamin D argument possesses persuasive strength through documented disease prevention (rickets, osteoporosis) that makes it difficult to dismiss, exactly the connotation of compelling advocacy.
C) common
Common implies frequency or familiarity, irrelevant to argument strength. The passage emphasizes the argument's power, not its prevalence.
D) worthwhile
Worthwhile suggests value or merit but misses the persuasive intensity. An argument can be worthwhile without being compelling; the word choice demands stronger rhetorical impact.
Conclusion
Contextual analysis reveals "compelling" modifies "argument", describing its persuasive quality rather than its reasonableness, frequency, or general value. Only "convincing" captures this connotation of strong persuasive power based on evidence.