EXCERPT 1:
There are taxes on everything-from the goods we buy to the goods we have already bought. Food, services, clothing, furniture, animals and vehicles are taxed. There are taxes on roads, air travel, bus travel, train travel, and car travel (the gasoline tax). Marriages are taxed as well as children in the form of school taxes. There are capitol gains taxes, inheritance taxes, even environmental taxes. Social Security is taxed twice. A person cannot even die without being taxed. Did I leave anything out? Aire, maybe?
Oh yes, the air is taxed. The space inside someone's house is taxed. This is why assessors are concerned about the number of rooms in a house. The state wants to tax living space. Of course, the explanation is crafted in such a way as to seduce the homeowner into believing it is for his own good-so that proper value can be given to the house. Clearly, the motive is taxation.
Questions:
Respond with a short answer to the following questions:
1. What is the point the author is trying to make?
2. Is what this article says about taxes true?
3. List two things you think are unfair for the government to tax?
4. Why is it unfair to tax these things?
Answer YES or NO to the following questions:
5. Does the author use one long sentence to convince the reader?
6. Does the author use a series of specific, direct statements to appeal to the reader?
7. Does the writer use large words to overwhelm the audience?
8. Does the author use few examples to reveal his philosophy?
9. Based on the tone of the excerpt, is the author angry?
10. Based on the tone of the excerp, is the author sad?
11. Does the author use repetition and similarly structured sentences to make his point?
12. Does the author use statistics , numbers, and technical language to convey his lack of attachment to the subject of taxes?
KEEP GOING
