Question

If you sign up for band, you can expect your chances of attending college to rise
dramatically. Music has a magical quality that is somehow interwoven with human
intelligence. Studies have shown that students who participate in music classes have a
high probability of graduating from high school. Imagine how much the world would open
up to students if music education was mandatory-now that's something to sing about!

What would strengthen the underlined argument?

1

2

3

offering the perspective of students who do not take music education yet
still graduate and attend university

examining the reasons why mandatory music education is not currently in
place in most schools

providing additional information about the number of those graduating
band students that go on to college

Answer 1

3

Showing how many students who graduate from band go on to college directly supports the claim that music participation increases college attendance. Option 1 supplies counterexamples and would weaken the argument; option 2 explains obstacles to mandate but doesn't strengthen the causal link.