Develop Reasoning Effectively Throughout Argument Practice Test

Read the student essay below, then answer the question.

Student essay (approx. 380 words):

Many schools are debating whether to replace most printed textbooks with school-issued tablets. While tablets sound modern, schools should keep printed textbooks as the primary resource because they support focus, equal access, and long-term learning.

First, printed books help students focus. A tablet is designed to do many things at once: messages, games, and endless tabs. Even with “school mode,” students know the device can do more than the lesson, which makes it harder to concentrate. In contrast, a textbook does one job. When students open it, they see the chapter, not a dozen icons calling for attention. If schools want deeper reading and better comprehension, they should choose the format that naturally reduces distraction.

Second, keeping print protects equal access. Not every student has reliable internet at home, and not every family can afford to replace a broken device quickly. Schools can say they will provide hotspots or insurance, but those programs often have limits and complicated rules. A printed textbook works anywhere, without Wi-Fi or charging. If education is supposed to be a public good, the main learning tool should not depend on a battery.

Third, tablets are expensive. Districts have to buy devices, update them, repair them, and eventually replace them. Companies also charge for licenses and digital platforms. Schools already spend money on sports, dances, and decorations, so they can afford textbooks too. If budgets are tight, it makes more sense to invest in durable books that can be reused for years.

Finally, reading on paper builds long-term learning habits. Students can annotate margins, flip back easily, and remember where information appears on a page. Many adults still prefer paper for serious reading because it feels more “real.” That preference matters because it shows our brains are wired for paper. Schools should not rush to replace a proven tool just because tablets look innovative.

Which aspect most weakens the author’s line of reasoning across the argument?

(Consider how the paragraphs connect and whether claims are supported and logically advanced.)

Read the student essay below, then answer the question.

The principal at Riverside High is considering a new policy: students would place phones in locked pouches during class, unlocking them only during lunch and after school. Some students say this is too strict, but the policy is necessary because phones distract from learning and damage real friendships.

First, phones make it harder to learn. Even a quick glance at a notification breaks concentration. Teachers can tell when students are half-listening, and then class becomes less meaningful for everyone.

Second, phones affect friendships. When people sit together but scroll separately, they are not actually connecting. If students had fewer chances to hide behind screens, they would talk more and build stronger relationships.

Third, the locked-pouch system would help students become more responsible. If students can’t rely on their phones, they will learn to plan ahead and manage boredom. This is a life skill.

For these reasons, Riverside should adopt the phone pouches. Students might complain at first, but they will eventually realize they are happier.

Insertion: Which addition would best clarify how paragraph 3 advances the thesis?

A. Add after “Second, phones affect friendships.”: “This is why the pouch policy is about more than academics; it also protects the social environment that makes school worth attending.”

B. Add after “When people sit together but scroll separately, they are not actually connecting.”: “Some apps are designed to be addictive, which is why students cannot simply ‘choose’ to stop checking them.”

C. Add after “If students had fewer chances to hide behind screens, they would talk more and build stronger relationships.”: “Because the thesis argues that phones distract from learning and damage friendships, limiting phone access directly supports both parts of that claim.”

D. Add after “For these reasons, Riverside should adopt the phone pouches.”: “The school should also repaint the cafeteria to make it more welcoming.”