PrepTest 127 · Section 2 · Question 2

The Great Lunchroom Litter Debate

The lunchroom floor looks like a tornado ate a sandwich. Frankie stands on a chair. "Litter will stop only when every litterbug surely loses dessert, and the loss is big enough that nobody thinks it's worth it!" Sharon stands on the next chair. "Wrong! Put out fun bins, the kind that play a song when you toss trash in. Kids who thought dropping wrappers was the only fast way to get to recess will pick the bin instead." They glare at each other. Ms. Rivera tells them both to get off the chairs. Priya writes on a napkin: "Frankie: scare them into choosing right. Sharon: tempt them into choosing right." Lulu reads it and smiles. "So you two do agree on something. You both think kids choose whether to drop trash." Frankie and Sharon say "Hmph" together.

Frankie: Litter will stop only when every litterbug is sure to lose dessert, and the loss is big enough to change their mind. Sharon: No, the best fix is fun bins, so that kids who saw dropping wrappers as the quickest way to recess will decide to use the bins instead.

The conversation best supports the idea that Frankie and Sharon share which belief?

Two Lawyers, One Belief

In the fictional Town of Puddleton, two lawyers argued about late library books. Ms. Kettle said, "Books will come back on time only when the fine is certain and steep." Mr. Whitfield tugged his suspenders. "No, Your Honor. Send friendly reminder postcards with a joke on them, and readers will decide to return books." The judge listened, then smiled. "Counselors, you disagree on the fix. But you both assume readers can choose to return a book or keep it. A fine only works on someone who can choose. So does a joke." Both lawyers opened their mouths to object, found nothing to object to, and closed them again.