Question

Part A
Multiple Choice Question
Read the excerpt from a student article about school start times:

“Some people argue that schools should start later to allow teenagers more sleep. However, research shows that many students also participate in after-school activities that are important for their development. Schools should find a balance by offering flexible schedules rather than simply delaying start times.”

Which of the following best describes how the author uses argumentative techniques in this excerpt?

A.

The author presents a claim and supports it only with personal opinion.
B.

The author introduces a counterclaim and rebuts it with logical evidence about after-school activities.
C.

The author provides evidence but does not clearly state a claim or address opposing viewpoints.
D.

The author ends with a conclusion that contradicts the initial claim about sleep.
Part B
Multiple Choice Question
Which revision would strengthen the argument and better engage the audience?
A
.

Add specific research statistics showing how later start times affect teen sleep and academic performance.
B
.

Remove the counterclaim about after-school activities to make the argument more straightforward.
C
.

Replace the conclusion with a personal anecdote about a single student’s sleep habits.
D
.

Add more adjectives to describe how tired students feel in the morning.

Answer 1

Part A: B
- The author acknowledges an opposing view (later start times for sleep) then counters it by citing research about after-school activities and recommends a balanced solution.

Part B: A
- Adding specific research statistics would strengthen the argument’s credibility and better engage readers with concrete evidence.