Initial Text (about 185 words): Historians long believed most post–Civil War cattle herds from Central Texas followed the eastern fork of the Chisholm Trail to avoid flooded Brazos bottoms in spring. Newspaper dispatches from 1871 mention drovers camping near Bryan after "making the east crossing," and a county map from 1873 highlights a ferried route near Hempstead. Merchants' ledgers from Navasota list spikes in sales of coffee and gunpowder each May, which some scholars cite as signs of the eastward traffic. One 1872 editorial even warned residents to keep gardens fenced "as herds pass along the eastern road." From such sources, the prevailing interpretation is that the eastern fork handled the bulk of traffic, while the western path, skirting nearer to Georgetown and Round Rock, saw lighter use except in drought years. Although few physical traces remain—ruts vanish under pavement and fields—the documentary record appears consistent. If accurate, this pattern would explain why certain towns boomed with trade while others lagged during peak trail seasons. Diaries excerpted in a 1930s county history also describe "the usual east road" and "crowds at the ferry," reinforcing the assumption that the main flow hugged the Brazos's right bank. Student's Initial Response: The evidence shows most herds used the eastern fork; the consistent documents outweigh the missing ruts. New Evidence: Recent fieldwork west of the Brazos uncovered hoof-worn ruts, wagon hardware, and camp ash layers dated 1871–1873. A newly digitized ledger from a Black trail boss, Ike Lewis, notes using the "west crossing to dodge quarantine lines." Rain records show 1872 flood closures at the east ferry.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while staying logically consistent?

Initial Text (about 185 words): Last fall, San Antonio piloted a pedestrian-only weekend plaza along parts of Houston Street downtown to test whether car-free blocks could boost safety and family events. Early weeks saw detours that confused drivers and prompted complaints from delivery trucks about access. A local business association reported a drop in weekday receipts at several retail shops near the barricades, and social media posts from employees described longer unload times. Observers counted fewer cars but also noted sparse morning crowds, especially on cool days. A preliminary city memo (weeks 1–4) concluded the plaza "has not increased overall activity" and recommended reconsidering expansion. Some residents argued that downtown thrives on convenience and that closing lanes risks pushing shoppers to malls. With limited early benefits and added hassles for workers, the case for making the plaza permanent looked weak. The pilot was scheduled to run twelve weeks, but debate intensified before midterm data could be compiled. Student's Initial Response: The plaza hurts businesses and should be canceled. New Evidence: By week twelve, pedestrian counts showed sustained weekend foot traffic up 30%. Cafes and ice cream shops rose above baseline; some apparel stores stayed flat. The city added timed loading zones and delivery access before noon. A visitor survey reported higher feelings of safety; weekday results remained mixed.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while staying logically consistent?

Initial Text (about 180 words): At Westside Middle School, a fall survey of 200 students and 30 teachers asked about school start times. Half the students who play sports or work part-time said the current early start lets them practice and clock in after school without running late. Several teachers noted that after-school meetings fit better when the day starts earlier. A campus newsletter summarized the results as "support for keeping our early bell," adding comments from a student who said, "I'm more awake first period after my bus ride." The principal reminded families that bus routes and after-school programs depend on coordination with nearby schools, which also start early. While the survey didn't track sleep or grades, its snapshot suggested that many schedules benefit from the early start. On that basis, a student editorial argued that pushing the day later would complicate activities and jobs, and that the status quo seems to work. Student's Initial Response: We should keep the early start because it fits activities and jobs. New Evidence: A district pilot delaying start by 45 minutes at two schools led to longer sleep, fewer tardies, improved GPAs, and fewer nurse visits. Sports practices shifted with minimal conflicts, bus coordination was resolved, and local health experts recommend later start times for adolescents.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while staying logically consistent?

Initial Passage: Along the creeks of Central Texas, summer evenings usually bring out clouds of mosquitoes—and the Mexican free-tailed bats that feast on them. Over the last two years, a local biology club has monitored bat activity under a small bridge near their town. Using simple acoustic detectors, they recorded fewer echolocation calls this spring than in previous seasons. On nights with very warm temperatures and little wind, the reduction seemed most dramatic. The students also collected mosquito counts with traps set along the creek. During weeks when bat calls dipped, they noticed more mosquitoes in jars by morning. Their advisor suggested that a temporary drop in bats might be allowing mosquitoes to surge, especially after heavy rains that left standing water. The club plans to present their findings at a community science fair to raise support for protecting nearby roosts. They hope that by limiting construction noise under the bridge, the bats will return in greater numbers, reducing mosquitoes and making twilight walks more pleasant for neighbors along the creek. They also propose adding native plants to bolster insect diversity and creek health.

Student Response: The data prove that fewer bats caused more mosquitoes, so we should focus only on protecting roosts by limiting construction noise. That alone will solve the problem.

New Evidence: A county vector-control report notes dragonfly larvae and small fish increased after heavy rains and likely consumed many mosquito larvae. An equipment log shows one acoustic detector had a loose cable for a week. Mosquito spikes were largest right after storms, even on nights when bat calls were normal. Some nuisance species feed at dusk before bats fully emerge.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while remaining logically consistent?

Initial Passage: Many museum exhibits describe the rise of the great Texas cattle drives after the Civil War. In one popular account, a single entrepreneur allegedly mapped the first drives from the open ranges of South Texas to railheads in Kansas during 1867. According to this narrative, his innovation solved the problem of surplus longhorns and low prices by creating a direct path north. Newspaper clippings from the time depict massive herds moving up what would later be called the Chisholm Trail, with cowboys sleeping beneath the stars and towns springing up along the route. A school textbook excerpt in our class packet emphasizes how these drives unified scattered ranches and fueled postwar recovery. It argues that the trail's organization was sudden, planned, and largely the work of one leader coordinating with railroad agents. The excerpt presents this moment as a clear turning point that shifted Texas from local trade to national markets. Students are asked to consider how one person's vision can transform an entire industry and to evaluate the evidence for the trail's rapid, centralized origins.

Student Response: The trail began in 1867 because one entrepreneur created it, so the drives were sudden and centrally organized.

New Evidence: Newly digitized ranch ledgers from 1865–1866 record herds moving cattle north before 1867, including entries by Tejano ranchers. Letters from Kansas rail agents describe multiple independent trail bosses and routes that merged and split. Early Spanish-language newspapers mention guides familiar with older paths used for trade.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while maintaining logical consistency?

Initial Passage: Last fall, a suburban middle school shifted its first bell from 7:25 to 8:45 after parent surveys cited sleep concerns. Teachers tracked several indicators during the semester to see how the change affected students. Tardy slips fell sharply in the first month, and the nurse reported fewer visits for headaches before lunch. In seventh-grade science, weekly quizzes showed a small uptick in average scores by October. Student council members also noted that after-school clubs drew bigger crowds because practices started in more daylight. A district newsletter highlighted these results and quoted a counselor who said the later start gave students time to eat breakfast and arrive calmer. Based on these early signs, the school's improvement plan described the time change as a key factor in boosting academic performance and well-being. The principal asked teachers to collect more data through winter to confirm the trend, hoping to recommend the schedule districtwide next year if gains held steady. Bus routes were adjusted by consolidating stops, and families received updated pickup times. Coaches worried about finishing games before dark as daylight hours shortened.

Student Response: The later start clearly improves academics, so the district should adopt it everywhere right now.

New Evidence: By semester's end, attendance improved and nurse visits decreased, but grades were mixed: science rose slightly while math and ELA stayed about the same. Some students reported conflicts with after-school jobs, and a few teams struggled with evening schedules. State test results are not yet available.

Which revision of the student's response best reflects the new evidence while remaining logically consistent?