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ELC501 Sample Final Exam - QuestionPaper - Aug2014
ELC501 Sample Final Exam - QuestionPaper - Aug2014
Read the following article and answer ALL the questions that follow.
I The term euthanasia originated from the Greek word for "good death." It is
the act or practice of ending the life of a person either by lethal injection or
the suspension of medical treatment. Because of this, many view euthanasia
as simply bringing relief by alleviating pain and suffering in situations when a
decision is made to refrain from exercising "heroic" measures in an end-of-life 5
situation. This leads to the question, should we be allowed to determine
when we die? What seems alarming is that there appears to be an increasing
acceptance of active forms of euthanasia which involve physicians’
assistance. We also face a bigger, more insidious threat from passive forms
of euthanasia, where medical care or food and water are withheld from 10
vulnerable patients who cannot speak for themselves. However, whichever
form of euthanasia it is, it should not be permitted.
II Euthanasia may be an issue long debated in the U.S., with Oregon being the
first state to have legalised the practice of physician-assisted suicide. Booth
Gardner, a former governor of Washington, is leading a ballot initiative that, if 15
approved, would allow doctors in Washington to prescribe lethal doses of
narcotics to terminally ill patients who want to end their own lives. The
campaign is personal for Gardner, who was diagnosed more than a decade
ago with Parkinson's disease, a debilitating condition. Gardner has
repeatedly said he would end his own life if given the tools to do so legally 20
with dignity as it is his right as a human being to decide for himself.
III According to a news report on the ballot, so far more than 80 per cent of
American adults agree with Gardner. In another survey carried out on 1,070
Americans released by ELDR Magazine, a publication aimed at senior
citizens, two-thirds support laws similar to Oregon's, which give people the 25
"right to die" through physician-assisted suicide. More than 80 per cent of
respondents also said that, if terminally ill and in pain, they would want to be
VI No one has the right to judge that another’s life is not worth living even if the
person concerned has given up on his or her own life. The basic right to life
should not be abridged because someone decides that someone else’s
quality of life is too low. If we base the right to life on quality of life standards, 55
there is no logical place to draw the line. In the past, the Catholic Church and
other religious groups have succeeded in rallying enough committed
opponents to come out and vote against legalizing euthanasia. However, this
year, heading up a coalition against the Washington effort is Chris Carlson, a
formidable match for Gardner. Carlson also suffers from Parkinson's and was 60
diagnosed with terminal cancer three years ago. Despite the diagnosis, he is
still around and has wondered what would have happened if he had given up
hope and opted for euthanasia.
VII Carlson is living proof that doctors can get things wrong. As such, there is
this fear that the "right to die" law may translate into premature suicide. One 65
of the biggest concerns is that although a physician is supposed to ensure
the patient is not depressed, the law has not made it mandatory for the
person seeking euthanasia to undergo a formal mental evaluation by a
psychiatrist. This, however, is necessary because any person diagnosed with
terminal illness could be immediately depressed. What is alarming is that 70
according to the Oregon Department of Health Services, none of the 49
physician-assisted suicide patients in Oregon last year had such an
evaluation done. As an estimated 90 per cent of suicides in the U.S. have
been associated with mental illness, such an evaluation should have been
made mandatory. 75
VIII Another reason to challenge legalising euthanasia is the charge that "right to
die" laws unfairly target women, minorities and the poor. Some critics claim
that women and minorities are quicker than others to perceive themselves as
a financial or emotional burden to their families, and may be more easily
persuaded to end their lives. Research conducted by Colorado State 80
University shows that of the 75 suicides assisted by Jack Kevorkian, a doctor
from Michigan through 1997, 72 per cent were women. It was found that
more than three-quarters of those women, while certainly ill and suffering
were not expected to die within six months. There is also this concern that
the law could coerce people with disabilities into suicide. Duane French, a 85
quadriplegic believes that financial pressures motivate too many important
health care decisions and this may lead to sick and disabled people feeling
pressured to choose assisted suicide.
X Who are we to end our lives or the lives of others as we choose? Other
measures need to be considered such as protecting vulnerable patients by
fostering more positive attitudes towards people with serious and
incapacitating illnesses and conditions. We must also enact positive
legislation that will protect vulnerable people from those who consider their 100
lives meaningless or too costly to maintain and who would cause their deaths
by withholding life-sustaining care such as food and water or administering
lethal injections. Despite the ravages of their diseases, they are still our fellow
human beings and deserve our care and respect.
QUESTION 1
Interpret the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
(4 marks)
QUESTION 2
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(2 marks)
QUESTION 3
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(2 marks)
QUESTION 4
Explain what the writer is implying when the writer states, ‘many view euthanasia as simply
bringing relief by alleviating pain and suffering in situations when a decision is made to
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(3 marks)
QUESTION 5
State the main idea of paragraph VIII and give ONE MAJOR supporting detail to support the
main idea.
a) Main idea:
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(2 marks)
QUESTION 6
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(2 marks)
QUESTION 7
Read each of the following statements. Decide whether each statement is a Fact or an
Opinion and explain why. Write your answer in the space provided.
a) We also face a bigger, more insidious threat from passive forms of euthanasia, where
medical care or food and water are withheld from vulnerable patients who cannot speak for
themselves.
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b) As an estimated 90 per cent of suicides in the U.S. have been associated with mental
illness, such an evaluation should have been made mandatory.
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© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL 8 ELC501/SAMPLE FINAL EXAM
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c) It was found that more than three-quarters of those women, while certainly ill and
suffering, were not expected to die within six months.
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(6 marks)
QUESTION 8
The author has used different types of support as supporting details in the article. Identify the
type of support for each of the supporting detail given below.
b) The state's legislation requires that the patient, who must be at least
18 and an Oregon resident, make two requests to die within two
weeks (Paragraph IV).
c) Voters have struck down dozens of similar "right to die" laws since the
late 1980s, including in Washington State in 1992 (Paragraph V).
(4 marks)
QUESTION 9
Referring to paragraph X, identify two inferences that can be made about what the author
believes.
I. Patients who are dying are not being adequately protected by the law.
II. Caregivers have a positive outlook towards caring for the dying.
III. Dying patients are being dehumanised.
IV Euthanasia is a possible option among other measures.
QUESTION 10
Determine which of the following groups is least likely to be the intended audience.
a) The elderly
b) Dying patients
c) Physicians
d) Youngsters
e) Caregivers
(1 mark)
QUESTION 11
Identify which of the following best describes the tone of the author.
a) Pleading
b) Concerned
c) Dispassionate
d) Emphatic
e) Righteous
(1 mark)
QUESTION 12
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 13
Evaluate the writer’s use of language in paragraphs VII and VIII that indicates his view about
laws that permit euthanasia. Provide evidence to support your evaluation.
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(2 marks)
QUESTION 14
Draw a possible conclusion based on inductive reasoning for the given text:
According to a news report on the ballot, so far more than 80 per cent of American adults
agree with Gardner. In another survey carried out on 1,070 Americans released by ELDR
Magazine, a publication aimed at senior citizens, two-thirds support laws similar to Oregon's,
which give people the "right to die" through physician-assisted suicide. More than 80 per
cent of respondents also said that, if terminally ill and in pain, they would want to be made
unconscious even if it hastened death.
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 15
Draw a possible conclusion based on deductive reasoning for the given text:
The "right to die" laws generally target women, minorities and the poor. Some critics claim
that women and minorities are quicker than others to perceive themselves as a financial or
emotional burden to their families. They are more easily persuaded to end their lives.
Research conducted by Colorado State University shows that of the 75 suicides assisted by
Jack Kevorkian, a doctor from Michigan through 1997, 72 per cent were women.
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 16
Evaluate the validity and credibility of the author’s argument in the article. Explain your
answer with evidence from the article.
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(3 marks)
QUESTION 17
Evaluate the author’s argument for completeness. Explain your answer with evidence from
the article.
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(3 marks)