Question

question 2 of 10
read this paragraph:
the only ability that we know for certain that standardized
tests can measure is the ability to take tests. a student
with a short attention span, a student who suffers from
lack of sleep, a student who fails to decipher a poorly
written question, is doomed to bear the label of
\unsatisfactory aptitude\ when aptitude was never in fact a
variable.
what is most clearly the central idea of the paragraph?

a. aptitude is impossible to assess.

b. only devoted students succeed.

c. standardized tests are ineffective.

d. exams are often poorly written.

Explanation:

The paragraph states standardized tests only measure test - taking ability. It gives examples of students (with short attention span, lack of sleep, or who misinterpret questions) being labeled as having unsatisfactory aptitude when aptitude wasn't the issue. This shows that standardized tests don't effectively measure aptitude, so the central idea is that they are ineffective. Option A is incorrect as it's too extreme (the passage is about standardized tests' ineffectiveness, not aptitude assessment in general). Option B is not supported as the passage isn't about devoted students. Option D is incorrect as poorly written questions are just an example, not the main idea.

Answer:

C. Standardized tests are ineffective.