Question

informed opinions through causal chains
progress:
the movement of the progress bar may be uneven because questions can be worth more or less (including zero) depending on your answer.
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?
○ continuing using traditional start times.
○ implementing later start times.
○ students earning higher grades in core subject areas.
○ a three - year study of later start times.

Explanation:

To determine the cause of positive effects, we analyze the passage. The research team implemented later start times at schools (as they began a study of later start times, comparing to traditional start times). The positive effects (higher grades, better achievement, etc.) are associated with this implementation of later start times. The other options: "Continuing using traditional start times" is what was compared against, not the cause of positive effects. "Students earning higher grades..." is an effect, not a cause. "A three - year study of later start times" is the research method, not the cause of the positive effects.

Answer:

Implementing later start times.