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Reading Standards for Informational Text > Interacting Themes and Summaries (CCSS.RI.7.8) Practice Test

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Our middle school should move the first bell to 8:45 a.m. because later start times help students learn and stay healthy. Teen bodies release the sleep hormone melatonin later at night, which makes early mornings hard. When school begins too early, students arrive tired, and tired brains struggle to focus. Therefore, a later start is a practical way to improve learning without changing what we teach.
Later starts improve sleep and grades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adolescents get 8 to 10 hours of sleep. However, a survey of 412 students at our school last spring found that 63% slept fewer than 8 hours on school nights. In a study of Seattle high schools that moved start times to 8:45, average grades rose by 4.5% and first-period tardies dropped. This happened because students were better rested and more alert in morning classes.
Attendance and punctuality also improve. When Jackson County shifted middle schools to an 8:45 start, the district reported a 35% decrease in tardies and a 7% increase in first-period attendance over two years. On our own trial late-start day in March, tardies fell by 12% compared with a typical Tuesday. Because students had time to wake up and arrive safely, fewer missed the crucial opening minutes of class.
Some worry that buses and costs will be a problem. Yet transportation can be adjusted. According to our district transportation director, a two-tier bus schedule would keep the same number of routes while spacing them later. A nearby district made a similar change and reported no increase in costs. They even reduced fuel use by avoiding extra empty trips. Therefore, logistics should not block a change that helps students.
A common concern is that later dismissal interferes with sports, jobs, or sibling care. However, teams can shift practice times, and community partners can offer early practice slots. Other districts kept full sports seasons by scheduling practices on weekends or using lighted fields. Part-time jobs can start an hour later, and families can plan after-school care. Because the health and academic benefits are strong, the schedule should serve students first.

Which statement best states the author's main claim?

Our city should plant 2,000 new street trees over the next three years. Trees are not just decoration; they are simple infrastructure that cools neighborhoods, cleans air, and saves money. Because the benefits grow as trees grow, the best time to start is now.
First, trees lower dangerous heat. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, and paved streets trap sunlight. Because tree canopies provide shade and release moisture, they reduce temperatures on sidewalks and near homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, shade trees can lower surrounding air temperatures by 2 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. On our utility's open data portal, blocks with continuous street trees used 14% less electricity for cooling last July compared with similar blocks without shade. Therefore, planting trees can keep people safer in summer while lowering energy bills.
Second, trees improve air quality. Leaves and bark catch tiny particles from exhaust and dust, and roots help trap soil that would otherwise carry pollutants. A set of portable sensors used by the city's health department last fall measured 7% lower particulate matter (PM2.5) on streets with mature trees than on streets without them. In Toronto, a study of thousands of city blocks found that adding just 10 trees on a block was linked with health benefits similar to higher income or fewer chronic conditions. Because cleaner air means easier breathing, residents miss fewer school and work days.
What about costs? Planting and establishing a tree costs about \$400, including a watering bag and two years of care. However, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that a single mature street tree can return around \$90 per year in combined benefits such as energy savings, stormwater control, and air filtration. Our urban forester says, "The payback period is often five to six years, after which the benefits keep compounding." Therefore, the investment is reasonable.
Some argue that roots crack sidewalks and that pruning is a burden. However, those problems result from poor species choices and neglected care. When Ward 3 tried root barriers and selected smaller-canopy trees for narrow strips, sidewalk repair claims fell by 60% over three years. With good planning and a dedicated pruning schedule, we can gain the benefits while avoiding damage.

Reading Standards for Informational Text > Interacting Themes and Summaries (CCSS.RI.7.8) Practice Test

Which statement best states the author's main claim?

Which option correctly traces the argument in paragraphs 2–3?

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