THE MYTH OF THE COLLEGE DROPOUT

PART A: Which statement best expresses the central idea of the text?

• Whether or not you succeed isn't determined by the college degree you have – or

  lack – but your own motivation and drive.

• The successful people in America at least attended a university, even if they didn't

  graduate, and developed important skills while they were there.

• Dropping out of college is risky if you don't have a job waiting for you, or don't have

  any concrete plans about making money.

• While there are successful people who

  dropped out of college, the current leaders in the United States are overwhelmingly

  college graduates.

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PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "Numerous media stories and even famous billionaires are glamorizing dropouts or

  encouraging kids to skip college entirely." (Paragraph 4)

• "While it's true there are successful college dropouts, statistically speaking, they are

  not the norm…we found that the vast majority of the country's success stories are

  college graduates,"(Paragraph 5)

• "Yet, our data show that for students with talent and motivation to make it to the top

  of U.S. society, an elite college might just help you get there…" (Paragraph 11)

• "However, if you're a student thinking about not going to college or considering

  dropping out, remember that even Gates and Zuckerberg got into college." (Paragraph

  13)

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What is the authors' main purpose in the text?

• to stress that young people can't succeed without a degree right now

• to criticize Zuckerberg's and Gates' approach to a college education

• to emphasize how important a college degree is in America right now

• to show the benefits of attending an elite school over an average one

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How does paragraph 12 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?

• It suggests that poorer students aren't being given the same opportunities to

  succeed.

• It shows that income is a greater indication of later success than the education you

  seek.

• It proves that the people in power in America will always be the wealthiest.

• It stresses how difficult it is to get into a top university and move into a leadership

  position.

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What do the authors claim about college dropouts?

• They are just as likely to succeed as college graduates.

• They are not typically as successful as college graduates.

• They tend to make more money than college graduates.

• They can succeed at the same rate as graduates with the right motivation. 

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What did the authors learn from their study?

• Most U.S. leaders went to college, and a variety attended elite schools.

• The most successful leaders attended average colleges, not elite schools.

• All U.S. leaders come from a mix of educational backgrounds.

• U.S. leaders are evenly divided between attending college and not

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Attending an elite school…

• doesn't determine earnings, but could help students succeed.

• automatically means that students make more as an adult.

• doesn't provide students with a better education than other universities.

• means students are more likely to graduate than dropouts.

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What do the authors believe about college?

• It is the only sure way to be successful in our current society.

• It's becoming more important to attend an elite college.

• It should only be pursued by people who are passionate about learning.

• It's not for everyone, but it can lead to important opportunities.

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