8LA "Student Editorial: The Role of Rigorous Academics"

8LA "Student Editorial: The Role of Rigorous Academics"

By: Joon Kim

Paragraph 1

Our educational system has changed a lot in the last decade. More importance is now placed on standardized tests and challenging curriculum in all grades. While many of my classmates and their parents feel these changes cause too much anxiety, I believe they are beneficial for students. High standards better prepare students to be accepted into and succeed in college. They also teach students necessary time-management strategies, which will help them throughout their lives.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.13: Vocabulary: What does the word  beneficial in this sentence show about the author's point of view toward a challenging curriculum?

"... I believe they are beneficial for students." (paragraph 1)

• The author believes that a challenging curriculum can be too demanding for students.

• The author believes that a challenging curriculum causes harm to students.

• The author believes that a challenging curriculum is the only way for students to succeed.

• The author believes that a challenging curriculum helps students achieve their goals.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.13: Vocabulary: What is the meaning of the word  strategies  in this sentence?

"They also teach students necessary time-management strategies ..." (paragraph 1)

• classes

• techniques

• objectives

• assessments

Paragraph 2

It is increasingly difficult to be accepted into one’s college of choice today. Chances are even slimmer if you wish to attend an Ivy League university. In 2015, Princeton University accepted only 6.99% of students who applied. Harvard University admitted only 5.33%. Students who get admitted to well-regarded universities have high GPAs and outstanding test scores. They’ve taken honors classes since middle school and many Advanced Placement courses. Their success is due, in large part, to the high academic standards to which they have been held since elementary school.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.11: What is the central message of paragraph 2?

• The chances of a student being accepted into an Ivy League university are increasingly small.

• Students need a demanding curriculum to improve their chances of being accepted into a good college.

• Most students who are accepted into a good college take honors and Advanced Placement courses.

• A high GPA and excellent test scores are required to be accepted into an Ivy League university.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.12: What is an advantage of taking honors classes and Advanced Placement courses for high school students?

• An advantage of taking honors classes and Advanced Placement courses for high school students is a higher likelihood of being accepted to the college of their preference

• An advantage of taking honors classes and Advanced Placement courses for high school students is a lower likelihood of being given more responsibilities in the future

• An advantage of taking honors classes and Advanced Placement courses for high school students is a higher likelihood of being placed in remedial college courses

• An advantage of taking honors classes and Advanced Placement courses for high school students is a lower likelihood of being affected by changes to the school system

Paragraph 3

Of course, an acceptance letter is just the first step to a college degree. Many incoming students are shocked to realize they aren’t prepared for the difficulty of college-level courses. According to Stanford University professor Michael Kirst, thirty percent of college students and sixty percent of community college students are placed in remedial math and English courses. Increasing the rigor of academic standards is imperative to fix this situation. More schools should adopt a challenging curriculum, and then more students will be prepared for college.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.13: Vocabulary: What is the meaning of the word  imperative as it is used in this sentence?

"Increasing the rigor of academic standards is imperative to fix this situation." (paragraph 3)

• unimportant

• essential

• special

• damaging

Multiple Choice

AKS B.10: According to professor Michael Kirst, what percentage of community college students are placed in remedial courses?

• 6.99%

• 5.33%

• 30%

• 60%

Paragraph 4

High academic expectations also help students learn important coping and time-management strategies. As students mature, they’re given more responsibilities and learn more advanced material. By meeting these higher expectations, students learn to manage stress and use their time effectively. These qualities are useful not only in school but throughout a person’s life.

Multiple Choice

AKS B. 14: How is the author's purpose in paragraphs 2 and 3 different from her purpose in paragraph 4? (Think contrasting/conflicting information)

• Paragraphs 2 and 3 focus on preparing to be accepted into an elite college, but paragraph 4 focuses on how to prepare for life after college.

• Paragraphs 2 and 3 focus on how students who take advanced courses perform in college, but paragraph 4 focuses on how students who take advanced courses cope with stress.

• Paragraphs 2 and 3 focus on the academic benefits of a demanding curriculum, but paragraph 4 focuses on the personal benefits of a demanding curriculum.

• Paragraphs 2 and 3 focus on the problems of having low academic standards in schools, but paragraph 4 focuses on the benefits of having high academic standards in schools.

Paragraph 5

 Many people feel that school has become too difficult, but I disagree. Demanding academics are helpful because they prepare students for college and teach important life skills. Let’s prove that we are up to the challenge and can be successful in school and in life.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.15: What is the author's point of view in paragraph 5?

• She criticizes those who oppose a demanding curriculum and wants to challenge them.

• She dismisses any concerns about a demanding curriculum and invites others to do the same.

• She finds the current demanding curriculum too difficult and wants to prove she can still succeed.

• She supports the focus on a demanding curriculum and encourages others to see its advantages.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.10: Which inference is  best supported by the passage?

• Standardized tests and a challenging curriculum are being eliminated because they cause anxiety for parents and students.

• The chances of being accepted into a well-regarded university are only low for students who do not take advanced courses.

• Remedial math and English courses do not teach the time-management skills necessary for students to succeed after college.

• Higher standards in primary and secondary education can continue helping students after they are accepted into their college of choice.

Multiple Choice

AKS 17: Which evidence best supports the author's claim that a demanding curriculum increases students' chances of achieving their professional goals?

• "... Princeton University accepted only 6.99% of students who applied." (paragraph 2)

• "Students who get admitted to well-regarded universities have high GPAs and outstanding test scores." (paragraph 2)

• "... thirty percent of college students and sixty percent of community college students are placed in remedial math and English courses." (paragraph 3)

• "These qualities are useful not only in school but throughout a person’s life." (paragraph 4)

Multiple Choice

AKS B. 11: What is the central idea of "The Role of Rigorous Academics"?

• A demanding curriculum helps students succeed well after they have graduated high school.

• Students and parents are worried about the increased focus on standardized tests in schools.

• An elite school only accepts a very small percentage of the students who apply.

• Studies show that most schools need to offer courses that prepare students for college.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.10: Why should schools adopt a more difficult curriculum? (Select the BEST answer choice).

• Schools should adopt a more difficult curriculum to keep parents from feeling anxious.

• Schools should adopt a more difficult curriculum to maintain the elite reputation of universities.

• Schools should adopt a more difficult curriculum to let students prove they can meet the challenge.

• Schools should adopt a more difficult curriculum to better prepare students for the demands of college.

Multiple Choice

AKS B.17: How does the author mainly support her central argument?

• The author mainly supports her argument by listing all the arguments against demanding academics and why she disagrees with them.

• The author mainly supports her argument

  by narrating true stories of how demanding academics have benefited students in the past.

• The author mainly supports her argument by including statistics that show why students can benefit from demanding academics.

• The author mainly supports her argument by appealing to the reader's strong emotions against the issue of demanding academics.