Persuasive- School Start Time Debate

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

• A. School buses should run more often in the morning.
• B. Students should go to bed earlier to get enough sleep.
• C. Schools should reduce the amount of homework students receive.
• D. Middle and high school students should start school later to improve learning and health.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

2. How does the author introduce the issue of early school start times?

• A. By presenting a scientific study about teen sleep patterns.
• B. By describing the morning routine of a tired student.
• C. By stating a strong opinion about school schedules.
• D. By comparing middle school and high school start times.

3. What is one key piece of scientific evidence the author provides to support the argument?

• A. Teens should get 6 hours of sleep each night.
• B. Students wake up excited to go to school each morning.
• C. Most students don’t eat breakfast before school.
• D. Teen brains stay in "sleep mode" until about 8 a.m.

4. How does the author develop the argument for later school start times?

• A. Students wake up excited to go to school each morning.
• B. Most students don’t eat breakfast before school.
• C. By providing scientific studies and evidence of improved student performance.
• D. By listing opinions of students who dislike early mornings.

5. What conclusion does the author reach at the end of the passage?

• A. Schools should consider student input when setting start times.
• B. Schools should require students to wake up earlier to adjust to schedules.
• C. Schools should begin later so students are more alert and successful.
• D. Schools should offer optional early start times for students who prefer them.

6. What is the main reason later start times help students?

• A. They provide students more time for breakfast.
• B. They reduce time spent on homework.
• C. They allow students to get more sleep, improving focus and health.
• D. They give students more social time before class.

7. How does the author use the example of Isabella in paragraph 1?

• A. To illustrate how early school starts affect students personally.
• B. To criticize students who wake up late.
• C. To show how students can be more productive in the morning.
• D. To highlight the benefits of shorter school days.

8. Which statement best evaluates the author’s argument?

• A. It is weak because it lacks scientific evidence.
• B. It is strong because it includes research, expert opinions, and real-world studies.
• C. It is weak because it only includes opinions from students.
• D. It is strong because it only presents personal experiences.

9. What is the purpose of the studies mentioned in paragraph 4?

• A. To prove that students get the same amount of sleep regardless of start time.
• B. To provide factual evidence that later start times improve student performance.
• C. To show that only some students benefit from later school times.
• D. To demonstrate that students can function well with less sleep.

10. What is one limitation of the argument in the passage?

• A. It does not mention any possible downsides of starting school later.
• B. It does not include scientific studies to support the claims.
• C. It argues that students should wake up even earlier.
• D. It does not address how school bus schedules would be affected.