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Information and IdeasVery hardFinding weakening a reading-programme claim

Information and Ideas practice question

A library claims that its new reading programme raised the reading scores of the children who took part, whose scores rose by 8 points over the year.

Which finding, if true, would most directly weaken the library's claim?

  1. A. The children who joined the programme were mostly those whose parents already read to them daily, and their scores had been rising at the same rate before the programme began.Correct
  2. B. The children said they enjoyed the programme.
  3. C. The librarians who ran the programme had been trained for it.
  4. D. A comparison group of children at another library showed no change in scores over the year.

Answer: A. The children who joined the programme were mostly those whose parents already read to them daily, and their scores had been rising at the same rate before the programme began.

If the participants were already improving at that rate, the programme adds nothing to the explanation.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The children said they enjoyed the programme.
Enjoyment doesn't bear on whether the programme caused the rise.
C. The librarians who ran the programme had been trained for it.
Training supports the programme's credibility, if anything.
D. A comparison group of children at another library showed no change in scores over the year.
A flat comparison group makes the programme look MORE effective.

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