Suppose the state is considering a proposal to raise the legal driving age from 16 to 18. The following letter addresses this proposal.
Dear Editor,
The state should raise the legal driving age. Doing so would make us safer, improve education, and benefit the lives of the sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds in our state.
Raising the driving age makes us safer. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds cause a disproportionate number of auto accidents. Too many sixteen-year-olds are clearly not ready for the responsibility of driving. The issue is not one of ability but of maturity. Driving requires good judgment, but many sixteen-year-olds still lack the life experience to make good judgments.
Raising the driving age improves education. Cars can distract students from their school work, but a higher driving age removes that distraction. Students are then freer to focus on their studies. Drivers need to know about the rules of the road and about their vehicles.
Raising the driving age benefits the lives of sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds. It removes the pressures and responsibilities of getting a license and driving a car when many of them are not yet ready for it.
For all of the reasons I have explained in this letter, I believe that we should raise the driving age to 18.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which statement would be the best additional argument for the author of this letter?
A. Many high school teens are involved in extracurricular activities as well as jobs.
B. Driving a car can help a teenager develop maturity.
C. There are many alternative sources of transportation available to teens with jobs.
D. Teens with good grades often have safer driving records.
B. Driving a car can help a teenager develop maturity.
Mazo wants to write an essay persuading people to walk more and drive less.
He has made the following table.
Reasons Why People Choose to Walk or to Drive
Walk
Drive
Inexpensive
Requires no license
Environmentally responsible
_____________________
Can travel more quickly
Can carry more cargo
Can travel long distances more easily
Which of the following reasons belongs on the blank line?
A. Requires special training
B. Physically demanding
C. Requires sturdy footwear
D. No need to find parking
D. No need to find parking.
The best additional argument for the author of this letter would be:
D. Teens with good grades often have safer driving records.
This argument would further support the point that raising the legal driving age improves education. By emphasizing that good grades are associated with safer driving records, the author can highlight the potential benefits of removing the distraction of driving for younger teens and allowing them to focus on their studies.
To find the best additional argument for the author of this letter, we need to analyze the information provided in the passage. The author has argued that raising the driving age to 18 would make us safer, improve education, and benefit the lives of sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds.
Option A: Many high school teens are involved in extracurricular activities as well as jobs. This statement does not provide a direct argument for raising the driving age. It may be a relevant consideration, but it does not support the author's main points.
Option B: Driving a car can help a teenager develop maturity. This statement is actually counter to the author's argument. The author argues that many sixteen-year-olds lack the maturity required for driving, so this statement would not be a suitable additional argument.
Option C: There are many alternative sources of transportation available to teens with jobs. This statement does not directly address the author's main points about safety, education, and the lives of sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds.
Option D: Teens with good grades often have safer driving records. This statement directly supports the author's argument about safety. It suggests that raising the driving age could lead to safer driving by emphasizing the importance of academic performance in promoting responsible behavior on the road.
Therefore, the best additional argument for the author of this letter would be option D: Teens with good grades often have safer driving records.