Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?

Part A: Which of the following describes the central idea?

• Juvenile criminals should be subjected to the same punishments as adults, even if they are not equally aware of any legal consequences; the law is the law.

• In cases of homicide, it is important to take into account the juvenile offender's criminal history when deciding upon punishment.

• In some states, juveniles convicted of committing or being involved in homicide are automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole, though many people argue that this is unjust and cruel.

• Minors should not be held to the same legal standards as adults because their brains are not as developed and their actions mean less than adults'.

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

• "...a mandatory punishment of life without parole for a 14-year-old is cruel and unusual punishment because the defendant's age and background...cannot mitigate punishment" (Paragraph 9).

• "Fourteen-year-olds, for instance, are not allowed to drink, to marry, to vote, to serve on juries or even to drive" (Paragraph 140.

• "...we don't know what the potential of the life would be that was snuffed out in the crime..." (Paragraph 24).

• "It takes them years before they even get what it means to be sentenced to life in prison without parole, because they're just not used to thinking that far ahead" (Paragraph 32).

Which of the following most closely matches the definition of "egregious" as used in Paragraph 26?

• circumstantial or uncommon

• especially bad or shocking

• indicative of poor character

• unknown or unimportant

What is the main argument present in the article?

• There is a rift in the decision for the Supreme Court of whether teenagers should be convicted for life due to varying circumstances.

• Young people should be convicted of life behind bars due to the severity of the crime.

• The Supreme Court wishes to rule in favor of the death penalty for young people due to the severity of their actions.

• The Attorney General and the Defense Attorney are not seeing eye-to-eye in terms of convicted young people to the death penalty.

How does paragraph 1 contribute to the claim presented in the article?

• Paragraph 1 shows the decision to rule in favor of the death penalty for the 14-year-old.

• Paragraph 1 shows the issue the Supreme Court faces in terms of killing the 14-year-old for his actions.

• Paragraph 1 shows the issue the Supreme Court faces in terms of convicting the 14-year-old to life behind bars.

• Paragraph 1 presents the idea that it could be constitutionally just to convict a 14-year-old to life behind bars.

How does the Supreme Court's issue affect America's juvenile justice system?

• The Supreme Court's issue challenges the justice system's decision to convict teenagers to life in prison.

• The Supreme Court's issue justifies the justice system's right to convict the 14-year-olds as it so chooses.

• The Supreme Court's issue magnifies the issue that the justice system does not know what it should be doing.

• The Supreme Court's issue diminishes the issue of the justice system completely.

What rationale does the article present that justifies the boys' cases for consideration?

• Due to the young men's family issues, their cases should be considered.

• Because of their athletic abilities in school, the young boys' cases should be considered to give them a second chance at success.

• Due to the issues surrounding their youth, their cases should be considered.

• Because of their lack of parental guidance, their cases should be considered.

What evidence supports the claim that 14-year-olds should not be considered for life?

• "In 2005, the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty for juveniles, declaring that kids are different from adults."

• "Two years ago, the court used the same rationale when it struck down the penalty of life without parole for non-homicide crimes committed by juveniles."

• "The court said that because of their youth, their brains are literally less developed, they are more impulsive, more subject to peer pressure and less able to see the consequences of their acts."

• "There are currently 79 of these juvenile killers who will die in prison."

According to paragraph 9, what is the definition of "mitigate"?

• to serve as

• to justify

• to create or stimulate

• to weaken or lessen

What claim is presented in paragraph 9?

"But the big question before the Supreme Court on Tuesday is whether life without the possibility of parole is itself an unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment when it is applied to juveniles."

• The charge of life behind bars for juveniles could possibly be an excessive punishment.

• The charge of life behind bars could possibly work as a light for other young criminals that have yet to be caught.

• The charge of life behind bars could stand as a logical fact that young men should be held accountable for their actions.

• The charge of life behind bars could overthrow the entire ruling of death penalty for young men.