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Question

Difficulty: EasyEvaluating Argument Strength and Credibility

Many educators argue that high school start times should be delayed to improve student academic performance. To support this claim, a school district in Minnesota shifted its start time from 7:307:30 a.m. to 8:308:30 a.m. Following this change, the district reported that average student grades rose by 10%10\% and overall attendance increased. This example demonstrates a direct link between later school hours and improved student outcomes.

Based on the passage, the credibility of the argument for delaying high school start times is most strengthened by which of the following?

  1. A
    The broad assertion that later school hours are universally beneficial to student outcomes
  2. B
    The citation of similar start-time experiments conducted in neighboring states
  3. The specific data showing a rise in grades and attendance after the start-time changeAnswer
  4. D
    The assertion that student grades rose by 10%10\% because students slept exactly one hour longer

Answer

The specific data showing a rise in grades and attendance after the start-time change
The correct answer is correct because the passage supports its claim with specific empirical evidence: after delaying the start time, average grades rose by 10%10\% and attendance increased. This data provides concrete support for the argument.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main argument in the passage.
The main argument is that delaying high school start times improves student academic performance.
To evaluate what strengthens the argument, we must first clearly understand the claim being made.
2
Locate the evidence provided in the passage to support this argument.
The author cites a school district in Minnesota that delayed its start time and subsequently saw a 10%10\% rise in average grades and increased attendance.
Empirical results from a real-world application directly support and strengthen the credibility of the claim.
3
Match the identified evidence with the correct answer option.
The option referring to the specific data on grades and attendance matches the empirical evidence in the text.
This option accurately describes the factual support provided by the author to validate the argument.

Key Concept

Evaluating Argument Strength and Credibility
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Topics

Evaluating Argument Strength and Credibility

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