Question

Proposition 26 will improve California's public schools

California is one of only four states where you need more than just a majority of voters to approve a bond issue to build new schools. Not coincidentally, California ranks 49th out of 50 states in terms of classroom crowding. Most of our schools are 30 years or older.
Proposition 26 would allow school construction bonds to pass with a majority vote instead of the current two-thirds requirement.
A majority vote is only fair. Currently, every "no" vote counts twice as much as every "yes" vote.
Of course it's easy to argue for Proposition 26 in Palo Alto, where voters understand the importance of a good education. Here, voters have been generous to the school system over the years, and bond measures have passed with far more than the two-thirds vote necessary.
But that's not true elsewhere in California, especially where schools fall well below national standards. We're not saying that school spending means higher test scores, but it's hard for students to learn in crowded, cold or crumbling classrooms. And these students are the workforce of tomorrow we're talking about, which is why many employers in the Silicon Valley are backing Proposition 26.
Opponents say that if we go to a majority vote, seniors who own homes but are on fixed incomes will be outvoted by non-property owners who don't care how high property taxes go.
But the number of seniors is increasing, and they're already casting the votes that decide many elections because younger people aren't registering to vote.
And we think seniors understand that better schools mean a better educated workforce.
Proposition 26 levels the playing field for school bond issues. It will mean that every "yes" vote will count as much as every "no" vote. And it will give schools, particularly in poor or impoverished communities, a chance to make needed improvements.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 26.
5
Re-read this paragraph from the editorial above:

"Opponents say that if we go to a majority vote, seniors who own homes but are on fixed incomes will be outvoted by non-property owners who don't care how high property taxes go."

What is writer's purpose of including this paragraph?
A.
to address the arguments of the opposing side
B.
to insist that property taxes be lowered
C.
to persuade officials to cut funding for fixed incomes
D.
to suggest that seniors should not have a vote

Answer 1

A. to address the arguments of the opposing side

The sentence presents the opponents' concern about switching to a simple majority, setting up the writer to respond or refute that argument.