Readtheory Quiz - "The Evolution of Schools"

The Evolution of Schools

Two hundred years ago, schools were held in log cabins, huts, or rented rooms. Some places had no schools at all. The one room schoolhouse predominated. Classrooms consisted of students from a wide range of ages and teachers had to teach all of these students simultaneously. For the most part, the curriculum consisted of reading, writing fundamentals, and life skills. Depending on the location and the farming schedule, some schools only lasted a few months in order for students to be able to work in agriculture. Attendance in schools was generally sporadic, with some students in extremely rural areas not attending school at all. It was not uncommon for a given student to show up for class only one day a week, and even that day would vary.

As populations grew, so did the schools. Industrialization introduced factories, technology, and new jobs. People needed to learn about these things in order to keep up. New schools were designed to better accommodate the changing world. Larger classrooms, more teachers, and changes in the content taught were essential to successfully adapting to this shift. Population growth also introduced more students to schools. This made it necessary for classrooms to be separated by age and ability level. This meant teachers were able to specialize in the areas and ages they taught. Population growth resulted in the growth of schools and major changes in the way that students were educated.

Taken from www.readtheory.org

1) According to the passage, the curriculum of early schools was based on

I. mathematics

II. reading

III. life skills

• A. I only

• B. I and II only

• C. II and III only

• D. I, II, and III

The Evolution of Schools

Two hundred years ago, schools were held in log cabins, huts, or rented rooms. Some places had no schools at all. The one room schoolhouse predominated. Classrooms consisted of students from a wide range of ages and teachers had to teach all of these students simultaneously. For the most part, the curriculum consisted of reading, writing fundamentals, and life skills. Depending on the location and the farming schedule, some schools only lasted a few months in order for students to be able to work in agriculture. Attendance in schools was generally sporadic, with some students in extremely rural areas not attending school at all. It was not uncommon for a given student to show up for class only one day a week, and even that day would vary.

As populations grew, so did the schools. Industrialization introduced factories, technology, and new jobs. People needed to learn about these things in order to keep up. New schools were designed to better accommodate the changing world. Larger classrooms, more teachers, and changes in the content taught were essential to successfully adapting to this shift. Population growth also introduced more students to schools. This made it necessary for classrooms to be separated by age and ability level. This meant teachers were able to specialize in the areas and ages they taught. Population growth resulted in the growth of schools and major changes in the way that students were educated.

Taken from www.readtheory.org

2) As used in paragraph 1, the word simultaneously most nearly means

• A. rapidly

• B. informal

• C. separate

• D. together

The Evolution of Schools

Two hundred years ago, schools were held in log cabins, huts, or rented rooms. Some places had no schools at all. The one room schoolhouse predominated. Classrooms consisted of students from a wide range of ages and teachers had to teach all of these students simultaneously. For the most part, the curriculum consisted of reading, writing fundamentals, and life skills. Depending on the location and the farming schedule, some schools only lasted a few months in order for students to be able to work in agriculture. Attendance in schools was generally sporadic, with some students in extremely rural areas not attending school at all. It was not uncommon for a given student to show up for class only one day a week, and even that day would vary.

As populations grew, so did the schools. Industrialization introduced factories, technology, and new jobs. People needed to learn about these things in order to keep up. New schools were designed to better accommodate the changing world. Larger classrooms, more teachers, and changes in the content taught were essential to successfully adapting to this shift. Population growth also introduced more students to schools. This made it necessary for classrooms to be separated by age and ability level. This meant teachers were able to specialize in the areas and ages they taught. Population growth resulted in the growth of schools and major changes in the way that students were educated.

Taken from www.readtheory.org

3) Near the end of paragraph 1, we learn that "Attendance in schools was generally sporadic..." As used in paragraph 1, which of the following statements also describes something sporadic?

• A. The weather in Sea Town follows an irregular pattern; one day it might snow, the next it might be sunny.

• B. Angelica brushes her hair every night before bed without fail.

• C. Iceberg lettuce generally lives 65–130 days from planting to harvesting; this follows the standard lifespan of staple legumes.

• D. A mere 30 out of 100 applications are accepted to the prestigious university every year.

The Evolution of Schools

Two hundred years ago, schools were held in log cabins, huts, or rented rooms. Some places had no schools at all. The one room schoolhouse predominated. Classrooms consisted of students from a wide range of ages and teachers had to teach all of these students simultaneously. For the most part, the curriculum consisted of reading, writing fundamentals, and life skills. Depending on the location and the farming schedule, some schools only lasted a few months in order for students to be able to work in agriculture. Attendance in schools was generally sporadic, with some students in extremely rural areas not attending school at all. It was not uncommon for a given student to show up for class only one day a week, and even that day would vary.

As populations grew, so did the schools. Industrialization introduced factories, technology, and new jobs. People needed to learn about these things in order to keep up. New schools were designed to better accommodate the changing world. Larger classrooms, more teachers, and changes in the content taught were essential to successfully adapting to this shift. Population growth also introduced more students to schools. This made it necessary for classrooms to be separated by age and ability level. This meant teachers were able to specialize in the areas and ages they taught. Population growth resulted in the growth of schools and major changes in the way that students were educated.

Taken from www.readtheory.org

4) Which of the following accurately describes the relationship between the first and second paragraphs?

• A. Paragraph 1 describes how low school attendance used to be while paragraph 2 describes how attendance has risen over time.

• B. Paragraph 1 describes how primitive schools used to be while paragraph 2 describes how schools have begun to use technology.

• C. Paragraph 1 describes how undeveloped schools used to be while paragraph 2 describes how schools were made to improve.

• D. Paragraph 1 describes how schools used to be poor while paragraph 2 describes how schools have become very profitable.