Which of the following statements about smoking is the best example of an appeal to pathos?

• A. Nicotine is a chemical found in cigarettes that can lead to addiction.
• B. Studies show that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 80%.
• C. Imagine the heartbreak of losing a loved one to a smoking-related illness.
• D. The government has implemented strict regulations to reduce smoking rates.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of 'appeal to pathos' in psychology and rhetoric. Pathos is an emotional appeal that aims to persuade by evoking feelings such as sympathy, fear, or sadness.
2. Step 2: Analyze each statement to identify whether it appeals to logic (logos), facts (ethos), or emotions (pathos).
3. Step 3: The first statement, 'Nicotine is a chemical found in cigarettes that can lead to addiction,' is factual and appeals to logos by providing information about nicotine.
4. Step 4: The second statement, 'Studies show that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 80%,' uses statistical evidence, appealing to logos and ethos through scientific data.
5. Step 5: The third statement, 'Imagine the heartbreak of losing a loved one to a smoking-related illness,' appeals directly to emotions by asking the reader to empathize with a personal loss, which is a clear example of pathos.