Do Teens Need Recess? Evaluating an Argument

Which statement best expresses the central idea of the whole text?

• 
  The number of mental health issues for teens is growing quickly, and school administrators need to develop a plan that will address this crisis.

• 
  High school schedules should include time for recess because it would improve the quality of life for students struggling with stress and anxiety.

• 
  While most students say they could benefit from a recess period, providing extra time for extracurriculars and career development would be a more beneficial use of school day hours.

• 
  Recess may improve teens' mental health by providing a movement break during the school day, but it could also cause students to experience stress because it takes away academic time.

What type of evidence does Ryan use to support his claim in the "Yes" response?

• 
  Personal anecdotes

• 
  Expert opinions

• Statistics

• 
  Historical data

What does it mean for something to be diagnosable (paragraph 4)?

• Identifiable by a doctor

• Unidentifiable

• Randomly determined

• 
  Unpredictable

What is the main difference between Ryan (Yes) and Reagan's (No) viewpoints on recess?

• 
  Ryan believes in the benefits of physical and mental health, while Reagan focuses on the potential negative impact on education and extracurricular activities.

• 
  Ryan believes recess is a waste of time, while Reagan believes it is essential for social development.

• 
  Ryan emphasizes the importance of academic achievement, while Reagan prioritizes physical activity.

• 
  Ryan emphasizes the importance of academic achievement, while Reagan prioritizes physical activity.

What does 'beneficial' mean? (paragraph 6)

• Harmful

• Useless

• Helpful

• Unnecessary

How does paragraph 4 develop the idea that recess would benefit students?

• 
  It describes school classrooms as very uncomfortable for students.

• 
  It provides facts about the mental health struggles many students face.

• 
  It gives details about the different experiences students have at school.

• 
  It explains that most students believe recess would improve their health.

What does the phrase "blow off steam" in paragraph 6 mean?

• 
  to experience intense anger

• to feel pressure in decision making

• 
  to have a poor response to an upsetting situation

• 
  to release unwanted stress or anger

Which evidence from the article best supports Reagan Zuber's ("No") central claim about recess?

• "With only a few hurried minutes between classes, we get worn out, and it becomes increasingly hard to pay attention the longer we sit at our desks." (Paragraph 4)

• 
  "If I'm forced to go to recess, that cuts back on the time allotted to my education — and that'll only hurt me in the long run." (Paragraph 10)

• 
  "That's why many students enroll in electives and AP courses — we want to expand our horizons before entering the real world." (Paragraph 12)

• "And even if everyone is well behaved, I imagine plenty of teens would spend the period staring at their phones, rather than exercising or running around with friends." (Paragraph 13)