Question 23

Dogs can indeed be mayors, as evidenced by real-world examples.

Citing examples where dogs have been elected as mayors would effectively support the argument that Butterbean could fulfill the role. This addition would provide a concrete basis for the idea of a dog as a legitimate candidate, enhancing the overall persuasiveness of the text.

A) The author proves that the city has a rat problem that people cannot solve

While establishing a rat problem might strengthen Butterbean's stance against them, it does not directly support her candidacy as mayor. The argument would be more compelling if it connected the rat issue to Butterbean's capabilities rather than suggesting a lack of human solutions.

B) The author provides data on how many visits to the veterinarian for eating socks Butterbean has made

This information would not add to the persuasiveness regarding Butterbean's qualifications for mayor. Instead, it highlights a minor flaw without reinforcing her suitability or the positive traits that would appeal to voters.

C) The author proves that dogs can be mayors by citing examples where dogs were elected as mayor

This option directly addresses the question of Butterbean's viability as a mayor, providing real-world precedents that would make her candidacy seem more plausible and appealing to potential voters.

D) The author provides a graph that shows the popularity of “regular” dogs vs. pedigreed dogs

While this could provide insight into public preferences, it does not specifically strengthen the argument for Butterbean's candidacy. Popularity alone does not equate to the ability to govern effectively, so this addition would not enhance the persuasive nature of the text.

Conclusion

Incorporating examples of dogs that have been elected as mayors (Option C) would significantly bolster the argument for Butterbean's candidacy by providing legitimate evidence that dogs can hold such positions. The other options fail to connect directly to her qualifications and do not effectively enhance the text's persuasive quality, as they either distract from her campaign focus or do not relate to her potential as a mayor.