Question

Last year, seniors at Jasper County's public high schools performed worse on standardized college-entrance exams than their peers at Nesbit County's public high schools. In recent years, more and more Jasper County residents have been enrolling their children in private high schools, where the teacher-to-student ratio is traditionally lower than in public schools, and enrollment in Jasper County's public high schools has dwindled as a result. Based only on the information above, parents residing in Jasper County and concerned about their child's academic future should pursue which of the following courses of action?

• A. Enroll their child in one of Jasper County's public schools.
• B. Stay in Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school.
• C. Provide home schooling for their child rather than enrolling the child in either a public or private school.
• D. Move away from Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school.
• E. Move to Nesbit County and enroll their child in that county's public schools.

Hint:

When faced with a problem involving decisions about education, evaluate the evidence presented for alternative options and choose the one that best aligns with the goals outlined in the argument.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the argument.
The argument suggests that enrollment in private schools is increasing due to poor performance at public schools. It implies that parents who are concerned about their child's academic future should consider enrolling them in private schools to ensure better outcomes.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) Enroll their child in one of Jasper County's public schools: Incorrect. The argument points out that public schools are performing worse on exams, making this option less favorable for parents concerned about academic outcomes.
- (B) Stay in Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school: Correct. This option addresses the growing trend of private school enrollment as a response to lower performance in public schools.
- (C) Provide home schooling for their child rather than enrolling the child in either a public or private school: Incorrect. The argument does not suggest homeschooling as a solution, and private schools are presented as a better alternative.
- (D) Move away from Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school: Incorrect. There is no evidence that moving away from the county will improve the child's academic outcomes more than enrolling in a private school in Jasper County.
- (E) Move to Nesbit County and enroll their child in that county's public schools: Incorrect. Although Nesbit County's public schools perform better, the argument suggests that enrolling in private schools may be a better option for concerned parents.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) Stay in Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school.

Final Answer: \[ \boxed{(B) \, \text{Stay in Jasper County and enroll their child in a private school.}} \]