Question

If someone says, "Only a congenital pinhead would make that choice," this use of language would represent: A. confirmation bias. B. syntactic slanting. C. anticipatory name calling. D. telegraphic speech.

Short answer

Answer: C. Anticipatory name calling.

Step-by-step solution

In order to answer this question, it's essential to understand the meaning of each term: A. Confirmation bias: The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses. B. Syntactic slanting: Manipulating the sentence structure or word choice to influence the reader's or listener's perceptions of an issue or situation. C. Anticipatory name calling: Attacking a person or group with an insulting label to undermine their position or argument before it's presented. D. Telegraphic speech: A form of communication used by young children that contains only the essential words to convey meaning, lacking complete sentence structure and grammar. #Step 2: Analyze the phrase#

Now, look at the given phrase: "Only a congenital pinhead would make that choice." Analyze the phrase's intention and how it is presenting information or influencing the listener's perception. #Step 3: Match the phrase with the correct term#

The phrase uses an insult ("congenital pinhead") to undermine someone's choice. It discredits the person's intelligence before their argument is presented or discussed. This best matches the definition of option C, anticipatory name calling. #Step 4: Choose the answer#

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is: C. Anticipatory name calling.