Question

read this excerpt from a passage.

in 2010, a research team at the university of minnesota began a three-year study of later start times at high schools in three states. they compared schools having earlier, more traditional start times with schools starting at times that correspond better to teens’ circadian rhythms. not surprisingly, the results, published in 2014, showed that some positive things happened at the schools with later start times. students earned higher grades in core subject areas. they performed better on achievement tests. and there were fewer absences and tardy arrivals. the research team reported other benefits associated with a later school start time (which means more sleep for teens).

what was the cause associated with the positive effects researchers discovered at the schools?

○ a three-year study of later start times.

○ students earning higher grades in core subject areas.

○ implementing later start times.

○ continuing using traditional start times.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: A three - year study is the research method, not the cause of positive effects.
• Option 2: Higher grades are a positive effect, not the cause.
• Option 3: The passage states that at schools with later start times (more sleep for teens), positive things like higher grades and better test performance happened. So implementing later start times is the cause.
• Option 4: Traditional start times were compared with later start times, and positive effects were in later start time schools, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. Implementing later start times.