PrepTest 124 · Section 2 · Question 16

Frankie Against Longer Recess

Ms. Rivera floats an idea: make recess twenty minutes longer. Frankie objects at once. "This hurts more than it helps! First, we'd lose math time. Second, kids would come back too tired to focus. Third, the lunch helpers would have to stay later." Sharon, who always disagrees with Frankie, starts popping his argument. "Kids who get more recess focus better, so they finish math faster." "The lunch helpers actually asked for more hours." "Longer recess cuts hallway fights, so the principal saves hours every week." "That tired feeling disappears ten minutes after we sit down." Then Marcus adds, "Also, the extra minutes would come on Mondays more than Fridays." Sharon turns. "That doesn't help me or Frankie, Marcus. It's just a schedule fact."

Frankie: Some people want recess made twenty minutes longer. But this would do more hurt than help. We would lose math time, kids would come back too tired to focus, and the lunch helpers would have to stay later.

Every choice below would undercut Frankie, except which one?

The Fountain Fight

A council member argues that a new fountain in the park would do more hurt than help: it costs water, it attracts pigeons, and the gardeners must clean it. Mr. Whitfield answers point by point. "Your Honor, the fountain recycles its water. Pigeons already gather there. And the fountain draws visitors whose donations pay for two more gardeners." A clerk raises a hand. "Also, the fountain would run longer in summer than in winter." Mr. Whitfield pauses. "True, but that neither adds good nor removes harm. My other points tip the scale. That one just sits on the table." The judge nods.