PACT 700 PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
d. Report cards would reflect how well a student is learning.
Although all four options are arguably benefits to eliminating mandatory attendance
laws, the term "economical" tells us we're looking for a cost-effective advantage.
According to the author, the cost of enforcing compulsory education is money ill-spent
and could be better spent on students who want to be there. - Answers - "So that
Nobody Has to Go to School if They Don't Want to"
An Excerpt by Roger Sipher
A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American
education is in trouble. One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance
laws force many to attend school that have no wish to be there. Such children have little
desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school that neither they nor more highly
motivated students receive the quality education that is the birthright of every American.
The solution to this problem is simple: Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow
only those who are committed to getting an education to attend.
Most parents want a high school education for their children. Unfortunately, compulsory
attendance hampers the ability of public school officials to enforce legitimate
educational and disciplinary policies and thereby make the education a good one.
Private schools have no such problem. They can fail or dismiss students, knowing such
students can attend public school. Without compulsory attendance, public schools
would be freer to oust students whose academic or personal behavior undermines the
educational mission of the institution.
Abolition of archaic attendance laws would produce enormous dividends:
First, it would alert everyone that school is a serious place where one goes to learn.
Schools are neither day-care centers nor indoor street corners. Young people who
resist learning should stay away; indeed, an end to compulsory schooling would require
them to stay away.
Second, students opposed to learning would not be able to pollute the educational
atmosphere for those who want to learn. Teachers could stop policing recalcitrant
students and start educating.
Third, grades would show what they are supposed to: how well a student is learning.
Parents co
b.
Students should not be forced or entitled to an education.
According to the author, many problems that arise in schools are a direct result of
students who are forced to be there. The author believes that attendance laws should
,be abolished in order to make education more valuable to students with a desire to
learn. - Answers - 2. Which of the following statements would the author most likely
agree with?
a.
The longer students attend school, the more productive the community will be.
b.
Students should not be forced or entitled to an education.
c.
Truancy officers should be doubled in districts with low attendance rates.
d.
Report cards should reflect the effort of a student, rather than the ability of that student.
b.
Fail or dismiss students who have attendance or discipline issues, which disrupt the
education of others
The author believes that education is failing because teachers and schools spend far
too much time disciplining behavior issues and mandating attendance. Teachers could
better serve conscientious students if given the opportunity to fail or dismiss those who
are disrupting the education of others. - Answers - 3. According to the author,
abolishing attendance laws would allow school districts the freedom to which of the
following?
a.
Provide counseling to students with poor attendance
b.
Fail or dismiss students who have attendance or discipline issues, which disrupt the
education of others
c.
Provide transportation to students unwilling to attend school
d.
, Move students from elementary to middle school without proof that learning has
occurred
d.
Most parents want a high school education for their children.
An assumption is something we believe to be true because it is something we have
been taught to believe and do not question. Here, the author is assuming that most
parents want a high school education for their children. There is no evidence in the text
supporting that claim, but the author believes it to be true based on his own experiences
and beliefs. - Answers - 4. Which of the following is an assumption made by the
author?
a.
Private schools can choose to fail or dismiss students.
b.
Nearly 15 percent of the school-age children in our largest cities are almost permanently
absent from school.
c.
If we can improve student attendance, we can improve standardized test scores.
d.
Most parents want a high school education for their children.
b.
Abolishing mandatory attendance laws would create better school environments for the
students with a genuine desire to learn.
Although all four options reflect the author's beliefs, only one of them describes the
central idea, or main idea, of the writing. The author is trying to prove that abolishing
mandatory attendance laws would create better school environments for the students
with a genuine desire to learn. The other answer choices are used as supporting
evidence to reinforce that claim. - Answers - 5. Choose the option that best describes
the central idea of the passage.
a.
Standardized test scores would increase if teachers could fail or dismiss students.
b.
d. Report cards would reflect how well a student is learning.
Although all four options are arguably benefits to eliminating mandatory attendance
laws, the term "economical" tells us we're looking for a cost-effective advantage.
According to the author, the cost of enforcing compulsory education is money ill-spent
and could be better spent on students who want to be there. - Answers - "So that
Nobody Has to Go to School if They Don't Want to"
An Excerpt by Roger Sipher
A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American
education is in trouble. One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance
laws force many to attend school that have no wish to be there. Such children have little
desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school that neither they nor more highly
motivated students receive the quality education that is the birthright of every American.
The solution to this problem is simple: Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow
only those who are committed to getting an education to attend.
Most parents want a high school education for their children. Unfortunately, compulsory
attendance hampers the ability of public school officials to enforce legitimate
educational and disciplinary policies and thereby make the education a good one.
Private schools have no such problem. They can fail or dismiss students, knowing such
students can attend public school. Without compulsory attendance, public schools
would be freer to oust students whose academic or personal behavior undermines the
educational mission of the institution.
Abolition of archaic attendance laws would produce enormous dividends:
First, it would alert everyone that school is a serious place where one goes to learn.
Schools are neither day-care centers nor indoor street corners. Young people who
resist learning should stay away; indeed, an end to compulsory schooling would require
them to stay away.
Second, students opposed to learning would not be able to pollute the educational
atmosphere for those who want to learn. Teachers could stop policing recalcitrant
students and start educating.
Third, grades would show what they are supposed to: how well a student is learning.
Parents co
b.
Students should not be forced or entitled to an education.
According to the author, many problems that arise in schools are a direct result of
students who are forced to be there. The author believes that attendance laws should
,be abolished in order to make education more valuable to students with a desire to
learn. - Answers - 2. Which of the following statements would the author most likely
agree with?
a.
The longer students attend school, the more productive the community will be.
b.
Students should not be forced or entitled to an education.
c.
Truancy officers should be doubled in districts with low attendance rates.
d.
Report cards should reflect the effort of a student, rather than the ability of that student.
b.
Fail or dismiss students who have attendance or discipline issues, which disrupt the
education of others
The author believes that education is failing because teachers and schools spend far
too much time disciplining behavior issues and mandating attendance. Teachers could
better serve conscientious students if given the opportunity to fail or dismiss those who
are disrupting the education of others. - Answers - 3. According to the author,
abolishing attendance laws would allow school districts the freedom to which of the
following?
a.
Provide counseling to students with poor attendance
b.
Fail or dismiss students who have attendance or discipline issues, which disrupt the
education of others
c.
Provide transportation to students unwilling to attend school
d.
, Move students from elementary to middle school without proof that learning has
occurred
d.
Most parents want a high school education for their children.
An assumption is something we believe to be true because it is something we have
been taught to believe and do not question. Here, the author is assuming that most
parents want a high school education for their children. There is no evidence in the text
supporting that claim, but the author believes it to be true based on his own experiences
and beliefs. - Answers - 4. Which of the following is an assumption made by the
author?
a.
Private schools can choose to fail or dismiss students.
b.
Nearly 15 percent of the school-age children in our largest cities are almost permanently
absent from school.
c.
If we can improve student attendance, we can improve standardized test scores.
d.
Most parents want a high school education for their children.
b.
Abolishing mandatory attendance laws would create better school environments for the
students with a genuine desire to learn.
Although all four options reflect the author's beliefs, only one of them describes the
central idea, or main idea, of the writing. The author is trying to prove that abolishing
mandatory attendance laws would create better school environments for the students
with a genuine desire to learn. The other answer choices are used as supporting
evidence to reinforce that claim. - Answers - 5. Choose the option that best describes
the central idea of the passage.
a.
Standardized test scores would increase if teachers could fail or dismiss students.
b.
