Lori, the local doctor of your rural town, shows you the fol…

Lori, the local doctor of your rural town, shows you the following line from her medical malpractice insurance: “The policy excludes coverage for the treatment of patients with the experimental drug.” Lori treated a patient using a standard method, but that patient happened to be taking an experimental drug for a different condition as proscribed by a different doctor. The company is refusing to cover a complication. They argue the phrase “with the experimental drug” describes the patients (anyone currently on that drug is excluded from coverage). Lori argues it describes the treatment (only the specific act of administering the drug is excluded). Task: Using phrase structure rules, show where this ambiguity comes from. Using phrase structure rules, show where this ambiguity comes from. Determine the two readings. (2pts) Provide the rules to show how both readings are constructed. (6 pts) Response example “The orange fish swam” Top-Down S → NP VPNP → Det NDet → TheN → Adj NAdj → OrangeN → FishVP → swam Bottom-Up Adj → OrangeN → FishN → Adj NN → Orange Fish Det → The NP → Det N NP → The orange fish

Lori shows you the following line from her shipping agreemen…

Lori shows you the following line from her shipping agreement: “The contract excludes coverage for the transport of chemicals in plastic containers.” Lori shipped chemicals in a metal tank, but the tank was kept inside a room with plastic walls that leaked. The company argues the phrase “in plastic containers” describes the transport (the entire method of moving them). Lori argues it describes the chemicals (only chemicals specifically bottled in plastic are excluded). Task: Using phrase structure rules, show where this ambiguity comes from. Using phrase structure rules, show where this ambiguity comes from. Determine the two readings. (2pts) Provide the rules to show how both readings are constructed. (6 pts) Response example “The orange fish swam” Top-Down S → NP VPNP → Det NDet → TheN → Adj NAdj → OrangeN → FishVP → swam Bottom-Up Adj → OrangeN → FishN → Adj NN → Orange Fish Det → The NP → Det N NP → The orange fish

Critical Thinking: Case Study: A local small business owner,…

Critical Thinking: Case Study: A local small business owner, Lori, contacts you in a panic. Her insurance company is refusing to pay a claim. The insurance adjuster points to a specific exclusionary clause in her contract, but Lori disagrees with the interpretation. Instructions: Use your knowledge of phrase structure to determine if the contract is truly ambiguous or if one interpretation is syntactically superior. You will complete this in three steps: Map the two possible meanings using phrase structure rules. Analyze the attachment of the ambiguous phrases. Draft a professional “Expert Opinion” letter for Lori to send to her insurance agent.