Lesson: Critical/Logical Reasoning - 13t01

Now Try An In-Format Question

Critics of strict "promotional gates" at the grade school level point to a recent study comparing students forced to repeat a grade with those promoted despite failing scores on an unscheduled, experimental competency test. Since there was no significant difference between the two groups' scores on a second test administered after completion of the next higher grade level, these critics argue that the retention policy has failed in its expressed purpose of improving students' basic skills.

	Anxiety over performance on standardized tests often hinders a student's ability to master challenging new material.
	A student's true intellectual development cannot be gauged by his score on a standardized competency test.
	The psychological damage a child suffers by repeating a grade outweighs the potential intellectual benefits of a second chance at learning.
	Strict requirements for promotion do not lead to harder work and greater mastery of fundamentals among students fearful of being held back.
	Socioeconomic factors as well as test scores influenced whether a given student in the study was promoted or forced to repeat a grade.

Countinue

The correct answer is Choice (D). The critics would like you to believe that holding kids back a grade does nothing to improve their skills. If it did, we would expect them to master the fundamentals after being held back. But since the author cites evidence that the held-back group did no better in a subsequent test than did the passed-along group, he concluded that there must be no benefit to holding kids back who fail proficiency exams. They'll do equally well, or equally badly, if they are promoted rather than held back.

That question tested your ability to identify the conclusion directly. Although you may see only one or two of these questions on your test, it is essential that you be able to identify the evidence and conclusion on all questions in order to get your best score.