Methods: Cause/Effect and Compare/Contrast Practice Test
•9 QuestionsRead the passage embedded below, then answer the question.
At my town’s public library, the director argues that eliminating overdue fines is not a “soft” policy but a practical one. When a $2 balance blocks a card, families who rely on the library for internet access lose the ability to apply for jobs, complete homework, or print medical forms. That loss doesn’t stay contained: teachers see more missing assignments, employers see fewer applications, and the library sees fewer visits overall. Meanwhile, the fines rarely recover the value of the books; staff time spent negotiating small debts often costs more than the revenue collected. By contrast, when fines are removed, patrons return sooner because they are no longer embarrassed at the desk, and materials circulate more predictably. The director concedes that accountability still matters, but she notes that replacement fees for truly lost items remain in place. In short, fines create barriers that reduce use, and reduced use undermines the very public service the library is funded to provide.
The author primarily develops the argument through…
Read the passage embedded below, then answer the question.
At my town’s public library, the director argues that eliminating overdue fines is not a “soft” policy but a practical one. When a $2 balance blocks a card, families who rely on the library for internet access lose the ability to apply for jobs, complete homework, or print medical forms. That loss doesn’t stay contained: teachers see more missing assignments, employers see fewer applications, and the library sees fewer visits overall. Meanwhile, the fines rarely recover the value of the books; staff time spent negotiating small debts often costs more than the revenue collected. By contrast, when fines are removed, patrons return sooner because they are no longer embarrassed at the desk, and materials circulate more predictably. The director concedes that accountability still matters, but she notes that replacement fees for truly lost items remain in place. In short, fines create barriers that reduce use, and reduced use undermines the very public service the library is funded to provide.
The author primarily develops the argument through…