Download Quoting Relevant Information

Quoting Relevant Information
Name: _________________________________
Class: _________________________________
Teacher: _______________________________
Date: __________________________________
Directions: After reading the passage, read each quoted or summarized statement. Determine which information
supports the author's view and is relevant to the passage. Place the statements in the appropriate columns based on
their relevancy.
Where have all the Mondays gone?
The Push Towards a Four-day School Week
Rebecca Sparling
1 Most schoolchildren can agree on one thing: Monday is the least favorite day of the week. After a weekend of spending time with their
family and friends, few children relish the Monday morning sounding of the alarm or call of “It’s time to get up!” from down the hall. The
notion of eliminating Mondays from the calendar has probably crossed the minds of many students. Unbeknownst to them, many school
administrators are seriously considering the idea.
2 In 1973, an embargo on oil shipments to the West sent gas prices through the roof and led to a nationwide rationing of gas. The
government took radical measures to conserve gasoline. Many states reduced the maximum speed limit to fifty-five miles per hour and
implemented systems that only allowed drivers to purchase gas on certain days of the month. The oil crisis also affected schools and
businesses, many of which closed on Mondays or Fridays in order to save on heating and energy costs. After the embargo ended, many
schools and businesses returned to five-day school weeks and workweeks.
3 Once again, Americans face ever-rising energy costs. Because many states require school districts to provide transportation for students,
many administrators are looking for ways to slice the budget. Some districts are cutting extracurricular activities, school trips, and even
faculty members in order to make ends meet. Others are looking at how smaller school districts have managed to save money by
establishing a four-day school week.
4 Having few financial resources forces many rural school districts to make tough decisions when it comes to budgeting. Many rural
schools ferry students across hundreds of miles each day. Combine this with skyrocketing oil prices, and many districts feel the pinch at
the pump more than ever before. These concerns have led many districts to close school on either Mondays or Fridays, giving students a
permanent three-day weekend.
5 Supporters believe that the four-day school week has many benefits. Schools that have been using the program for several years report
improvement in the attendance of both students and faculty, while also slashing their energy bills. Some districts also reported unexpected
benefits to the shorter school week. Students in several schools received substantially higher scores on state exams after the
implementation of the four-day school week.
6 Of course, the program does have its opponents. Parents and guardians who work full-time worry about what they will do with younger
children on the extra day off. With many families struggling in tough economic times, the added cost of childcare once a week is an extra
burden that most cannot afford. Others complain that students should be spending more time in school, fearing that such a gap between
classes could lead to a drop in retention of lessons. According to EnergySavers.gov, we can all save energy by powering our cars with
alternative fuels. Energy efficiency is a good financial decision because, “If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy
system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit” (EnergySavers.gov). The International Energy Agency reports that the
United States has a higher rate of energy use than any other nation. “Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts
of the United States and Canada” (EPA.gov). “Contemplating a proposed eight-hour school day in Idaho, one sophomore said, ‘I don’t
think I’d be able to pay attention at all,’ according to KLEW, a local television station” (NYTimes.com). “Greater energy efficiency and
new technologies hold promise for reducing greenhouse gases and solving this global challenge" (EPA.gov). “In the current budget
crunch, several other states — including West Virginia and even New York — have considered the possibility of following Utah’s lead, as
have towns like Spring Lake in North Carolina” (NYTimes.com). “Over the next 25 years, natural gas and renewable fuels gain a larger
share of the U.S. generating mix of electricity, according to the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 Early Release Reference case” (EIA.gov).
7 States that allow four-day school weeks require that the students spend the same amount of hours in class each week. For high school
students, this means shortening breaks between classes while lengthening the school day by about an hour. Some people are concerned that
long school days cut into extracurricular activities and afterschool jobs.
8 While the debate will rage on in some districts, many parents, students, and teachers who have experienced the four-day week cannot
imagine reverting back to the Monday through Friday program. Though many people remain skeptical, many districts see the benefits of
the program, both financial and academic, greatly outweighing the disadvantages.
© USATestprep, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Statement
1.
According to EnergySavers.gov, we can all save energy by powering our cars with alternative fuels.
2.
Energy efficiency is a good financial decision because, “If you purchase an energy-efficient product or
renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit”
(EnergySavers.gov).
3.
The International Energy Agency reports that the United States has a higher rate of energy use than any
other nation.
4.
“Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and Canada”
(EPA.gov).
5.
“Contemplating a proposed eight-hour school day in Idaho, one sophomore said, ‘I don’t think I’d be
able to pay attention at all,’ according to KLEW, a local television station” (NYTimes.com).
6.
“Greater energy efficiency and new technologies hold promise for reducing greenhouse gases and
solving this global challenge" (EPA.gov).
7.
“In the current budget crunch, several other states — including West Virginia and even New York —
have considered the possibility of following Utah’s lead, as have towns like Spring Lake in North
Carolina” (NYTimes.com).
8.
“Over the next 25 years, natural gas and renewable fuels gain a larger share of the U.S. generating mix
of electricity, according to the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 Early Release Reference case” (EIA.gov).
Relevant
Irrelevant