Read the passage and answer the following question(s).

"A Later Start for Health" and "Keep Start Times as They Are"

Text 1: A Later Start for Health 
The scene is familiar in middle schools all over the country: students nodding off during class, homework neglected due to exhaustion, and lower than expected test scores. While there has been much discussion about what can be done to improve these situations, one solution seems obvious—begin the school day later.

Sleep research supports this view. Young children typically need ten to eleven hours of sleep per night. This amount decreases to eight to nine hours as children enter their teen years, but a major change in the brain's signal for sleep also occurs at this time. Where the younger child's brain releases sleep hormones earlier in the evening, the adolescent's brain releases those hormones later. This leads to a later bedtime for teens. In an ideal world, the later bedtime should come with a later wake-up time; however, school schedules typically do not conform to those wishes.

Many renowned doctors have also weighed in and support later school start times. These esteemed doctors have found that adolescents who get the proper amount of sleep receive higher grades and better test scores. They have also found that these teens have a better quality of life. Studies have shown that a later school start time allows teenage students to get the sleep they need in order to grow and learn. So what can be done to achieve this goal? The first step is identify areas of concern among groups who do not support changing the start time. Some concerns are about the scheduling of after-school activities and bus transportation. Luckily, there are simple solutions for these concerns.

Many opponents say that a later start time means a later end time. This may interfere with student's participation in extracurricular programs, such as athletics or tutoring. While it is true that pushing back the clock will decrease the amount of time available for after school activities, that small sacrifice is worth it. If more students get the sleep they need, chances are high that their need for tutoring will go away. They will also be more focused, which means the amount of time needed for homework will lessen. Athletic events do not need to stop simply because it is evening. Schools can install lights on the outdoor fields and allow students access to indoor facilities later into the evening.

Another area of concern that should be addressed with a later school start time is the need for a school district's transportation system to change. As a cost-saving strategy, districts plan bus routes with school start times in mind. This helps to save money because they can employ the fewest number of drivers and buses possible. A concern is that a later start time will mean more drivers will need to be hired and more buses will need to be bought; however, this should not obstruct the need for a later start time. Since elementary-aged children still typically wake up earlier, start times for all levels of schools could just be switched. Elementary students can start first, and middle and high school students can start last. There will be no need to change the cost of transportation with this solution.

Most people strive to be as healthy as possible, and sleep is an important component of health. Research shows that adolescents need a later wake-up time in order to perform better and be healthier, and pushing school start times back is a logical solution.

Text 2: Keep Start Times as They Are
Changing school start times for teens has been suggested as a way of improving test scores and overall performance. Some research even supports this change. While the research is sound, the complications associated with moving school start times back are just too numerous for this suggestion to be taken seriously.

Students who are involved with after-school activities will have to cut back or even eliminate their involvement if school gets out later. For some, the chance to participate in clubs or sports teams is a major factor in their willingness to come to school. School attendance for these students could decline significantly if they are forced out of activities. There have been ideas about installing lights so that students can play sports on the outdoor fields later at night. While this could be a good solution, there are not many school districts willing, or able, to make this sort of investment.

Another problem that would be faced with a later start time is the complete change in scheduling that would be necessary. School districts would probably be forced to start elementary schools earlier in order to allow the middle and high schools to start later. This seems like an easy plan until you look at the details. In order for elementary schools to start earlier, students will need to be picked up by the bus earlier. Not many people would be in favor of young children standing in the dark before the sun rises waiting for a bus. Also, younger children need more sleep than teens. They will have to go to sleep earlier if they are forced to wake up earlier. This will be detrimental in homes where parents get off of work late and have to put their children straight to bed. This would mean families would miss out on crucial quality time together.

While something needs to be done in order to help teens get more sleep, pushing the school start time back is not the answer. The complications necessary for this sort of change are too vast and not worth the effort. This question has two parts.  First, answer part A.  Then, answer part B.

Part A:

What conclusion can be drawn by the author's use of research in paragraphs two and three of "A Later Start for Health"?
A
The evidence shows that teens should just go to sleep earlier to get the sleep they need.


B
The evidence shows that teen sleep problems are a serious health issue that should be addressed.


C
The evidence shows that younger children are at greater risk of not getting enough sleep because they require more of it.


D
The evidence shows that athletic programs should be pushed later in the day to accommodate teen schedules.



Part B:

What excerpt from "A Later Start for Health" best supports your answer from part A?
A
Young children typically need ten to eleven hours of sleep per night.


B
Where the younger child's brain releases sleep hormones earlier in the evening, the adolescent's brain releases those hormones later.


C
In an ideal world, the later bedtime should come with a later wake– up time; however, school schedules typically do not conform to those wishes.


D
These esteemed doctors have found that adolescents who get proper amount of sleep receive higher grades and better test scores.  They have also found that these teens have a better quality of life.



2.  
The following question has two parts.  First, answer part A.  Then, answer part B.

Part A:

What is the overall difference in opinion between the author of "A Later Start for Health" and the author of "Keep Start Times as They Are"?
A
One author believes a later school start time for teens would improve test scores and performance whereas the other author believes this change would make no difference.


B
One author believes the best way to improve teenagers' health is to start school later whereas the other author believes this change could make teens less healthy.


C
One author believes something needs to be done to help teens get more sleep whereas the other author believes nothing needs to be done about it.


D
One author believes beginning the school day later would be beneficial whereas the other author believes this change would cause too many complications to be worth it.