Question
Reading
Read the selection. Then, choose the best answer to each question.
Share the Library Adventure:
Drop the Fines
1 When I check out books at the Brooktree Public Library, I smile at a lively poster on the wall. It shows travelers on horses that are leaping over a stream. It reads, “RETURN THE ADVENTURE. SHARE THE THRILLS. BRING BACK YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS.” But plenty of patrons shudder at another sign that warns, “Ten cents per day fine on all overdue materials.” This little message is enough to put a bad taste in the mouths of many library patrons.
Only Ten Cents Per Day
2 Why would such a small fine disturb anyone? Under this policy, returning an item nine days late wouldn’t cost even a dollar. But what if two children check out ten picture books at once? And what if their parents’ work shifts stop them from returning or renewing the books until they are a week overdue? These parents would owe a seven dollar fine. What if they are short on money? They might have to skimp on groceries to pay this penalty.
3 To avoid this kind of problem, some parents warn their children not to borrow library materials. For example, a mother in California told the New York Times, “I try to explain to [my daughter], ‘Don’t take books out. It’s so expensive.’” Many kids can lose access to library resources if they do not pay their fees on overdue items. Additionally, the kids who cannot afford to pay their fines might be the ones who need library materials the most because they may not have many books of their own. Don't all children have the right to access reading materials?
4 To its credit, Brooktree Library is thinking about dropping fines for children and teenagers. However, fines affect people of all ages. For example, one adult patron said he stopped using the library because he couldn't afford another bill at the end of the month. If they were to eliminate fines entirely, Brooktree would ensure that all library patrons, young and old, could make full use of the library.
What Will Happen to the Books?
5 Some Brooktree librarians argue that nobody can use library items if borrowers keep them out too long. They and other librarians say this is unfair and point out that patrons feel frustrated when they can’t get a book they would like to check out. Julie Todaro, president of the American Library Association, indicates that an overdue book can become a lost book. She explains that finding, buying, and processing a new book “eats up” valuable time and money.
6 Todaro and others doubt that libraries can meet all users’ needs without late-return fees. J. A. Jerome writes that, as a new librarian, she was against fines. Then she noticed that some borrowers ignored due dates if they paid no price for their tardiness. “How ‘right' is it to let a few … take advantage of the rest?” Jerome asks.
7 But this observation focused on the habits of a small group of users. At a library in Vermont, some people did take advantage of a new fine-free policy. However, after late fees were dropped, more people returned their books on time.
8 Other libraries that have become fine-free note similar results. After eliminating fines at one New York library, librarians did not report any increase in overdue materials. The main difference was that library patrons had more positive interactions with librarians. About 18 months after ending most of its late fees, one Colorado library system stated that people return 95 percent of items before they are a week overdue.
9 Getting rid of fines will not result in bare shelves and will lead to bustling libraries. At some libraries that eliminated fines, patrons who had felt unwelcome because of their fines were using the library again. After changing its policy, Salt Lake City Public Library reported a 3.5 percent rise in new cardholders and a 10 percent increase in checkouts. In the fine-free Colorado libraries, there has been a 16 percent increase in checkouts of children’s items.
10 Now that many other libraries have seen the light and joined the fine-free movement, Brooktree Public Library should not be left behind. Most borrowers will still “return the adventure” on time, and all patrons will “share the thrill” of making full use of the library.
Read this sentence from paragraph 3.
Don’t all children have the right to access reading materials?
What kind of appeal does the author make in this sentence?
A. an appeal to logic
B. an appeal to authority
C. an appeal to timeliness
D. an appeal to shared values
Read the selection. Then, choose the best answer to each question.
Share the Library Adventure:
Drop the Fines
1 When I check out books at the Brooktree Public Library, I smile at a lively poster on the wall. It shows travelers on horses that are leaping over a stream. It reads, “RETURN THE ADVENTURE. SHARE THE THRILLS. BRING BACK YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS.” But plenty of patrons shudder at another sign that warns, “Ten cents per day fine on all overdue materials.” This little message is enough to put a bad taste in the mouths of many library patrons.
Only Ten Cents Per Day
2 Why would such a small fine disturb anyone? Under this policy, returning an item nine days late wouldn’t cost even a dollar. But what if two children check out ten picture books at once? And what if their parents’ work shifts stop them from returning or renewing the books until they are a week overdue? These parents would owe a seven dollar fine. What if they are short on money? They might have to skimp on groceries to pay this penalty.
3 To avoid this kind of problem, some parents warn their children not to borrow library materials. For example, a mother in California told the New York Times, “I try to explain to [my daughter], ‘Don’t take books out. It’s so expensive.’” Many kids can lose access to library resources if they do not pay their fees on overdue items. Additionally, the kids who cannot afford to pay their fines might be the ones who need library materials the most because they may not have many books of their own. Don't all children have the right to access reading materials?
4 To its credit, Brooktree Library is thinking about dropping fines for children and teenagers. However, fines affect people of all ages. For example, one adult patron said he stopped using the library because he couldn't afford another bill at the end of the month. If they were to eliminate fines entirely, Brooktree would ensure that all library patrons, young and old, could make full use of the library.
What Will Happen to the Books?
5 Some Brooktree librarians argue that nobody can use library items if borrowers keep them out too long. They and other librarians say this is unfair and point out that patrons feel frustrated when they can’t get a book they would like to check out. Julie Todaro, president of the American Library Association, indicates that an overdue book can become a lost book. She explains that finding, buying, and processing a new book “eats up” valuable time and money.
6 Todaro and others doubt that libraries can meet all users’ needs without late-return fees. J. A. Jerome writes that, as a new librarian, she was against fines. Then she noticed that some borrowers ignored due dates if they paid no price for their tardiness. “How ‘right' is it to let a few … take advantage of the rest?” Jerome asks.
7 But this observation focused on the habits of a small group of users. At a library in Vermont, some people did take advantage of a new fine-free policy. However, after late fees were dropped, more people returned their books on time.
8 Other libraries that have become fine-free note similar results. After eliminating fines at one New York library, librarians did not report any increase in overdue materials. The main difference was that library patrons had more positive interactions with librarians. About 18 months after ending most of its late fees, one Colorado library system stated that people return 95 percent of items before they are a week overdue.
9 Getting rid of fines will not result in bare shelves and will lead to bustling libraries. At some libraries that eliminated fines, patrons who had felt unwelcome because of their fines were using the library again. After changing its policy, Salt Lake City Public Library reported a 3.5 percent rise in new cardholders and a 10 percent increase in checkouts. In the fine-free Colorado libraries, there has been a 16 percent increase in checkouts of children’s items.
10 Now that many other libraries have seen the light and joined the fine-free movement, Brooktree Public Library should not be left behind. Most borrowers will still “return the adventure” on time, and all patrons will “share the thrill” of making full use of the library.
Read this sentence from paragraph 3.
Don’t all children have the right to access reading materials?
What kind of appeal does the author make in this sentence?
A. an appeal to logic
B. an appeal to authority
C. an appeal to timeliness
D. an appeal to shared values
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is: **D. an appeal to shared values.**
In this sentence, the author is emphasizing a common belief or value that children should have access to reading materials, appealing to the shared values of fairness and equity in access to education and literacy resources.
In this sentence, the author is emphasizing a common belief or value that children should have access to reading materials, appealing to the shared values of fairness and equity in access to education and literacy resources.