‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘The case for mixed-ability class’, which is from the Cambridge 18 book. The Questions that have been asked are MCQs’,‘ Summary Blanks’ and Yes/No/Not Given’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 3: ‘The case for mixed-ability class’
| Question | Answer |
| 27 | B |
| 28 | A |
| 29 | C |
| 30 | C |
| 31 | H |
| 32 | D |
| 33 | F |
| 34 | E |
| 35 | B |
| 36 | NO |
| 37 | NOT GIVEN |
| 38 | YES |
| 39 | NO |
| 40 | NOT GIVEN |
Questions 27-30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D
Write the correct letter in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.
27. The writer describes the Romeo and Juliet lesson in order to demonstrate
- how few students are interested in literature
- how a teacher handles a range of learning needs
- how unsuitable Shakespeare is for most teenagers.
- how weaker students can disrupt their classmates’ learning
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The main keywords ‘Romeo and Juliet’ helps to find an answer in the first paragraph. ‘For three students, even these literacy demands are beyond them. Another girl simply can’t focus and he gives her pens and paper to draw with…’ Here, ‘literacy demands’ and ‘ learning needs’ are synonyms. The author talks about the demands of different students. Thus, the correct option is B.
Answer: B
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
28. What does the writer say about streaming in the third paragraph?
- It has a very broad appeal.
- It favors cleverer students.
- It is relatively simple to implement
- It works better in some schools than others.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The writer says in the initial lines, ‘The practice of ‘streaming”, or “tracking”. involves separating students into classes depending on their diagnosed levels of attainment. At a macro level, it requires the establishment of academically…’ In last line, ‘The practice is intuitively appealing to almost every stakeholder…’ This clarifies that it has broad appeal.
Answer: A
29. What idea is suggested by the reference to Mount Qomolangma in the fifth paragraph?
- students following unsuitable paths
- students attempting interesting tasks
- students not achieving their full potential
- students not being aware of their limitations
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Mount Qomolangma’ helps to find an answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘The brightest ones will never summit Mount Qomolangma, and the stragglers won’t enjoy the lovely stroll in the park they are perhaps more suited to. Individuals suffer at the demands of the collective, mediocrity prevails…’ Here, these lines clarifies that students are not achieving their full potential.
Answer: C
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
30. What does the word ‘scaffolding in the sixth paragraph refer to?
- the factors which prevent a student from learning effectively
- the environment where most of a student’s learning takes place
- the assistance given to a student in their initial stages of learning
- the setting of appropriate learning targets for a student’s aptitude
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘scaffolding’ and it is there in the last third line of the paragraph. ‘This is the gap between what they can achieve only with support -teachers, textbooks, worked examples, parents and so on-and what they can achieve independently The purpose of teaching is to provide and then gradually remove this ‘scaffolding’ until they are autonomous…’ Here, support of teachers, textbooks’ refers to ‘assistance’. And it was provided in the initial stage of learning until they become autonomous.
Answer: C
Questions 31-36
Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-1, below Write the correct letter, A-l, in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet
Is streaming effective?
According to Professor John Hattie of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, there is very little indication that streaming leads to 31……………….
Location: 8th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘ John Hattie’ helps to locate an answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Streaming students by diagnosed achievement automatically limits what the teacher feels the student is capable of…’ Here, ‘diagnosed achievement automatically limits…’ that means ‘there is very little indication that it leads to higher achievements’. Thus, the answer is H.
Answer: H
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
He points out that, in schools which use streaming, the most significant impact is on those students placed in the 32………………, especially where a large proportion of them have 33……………….
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘ outcomes What is more, streaming appears to significantly -and negatively-affect those students assigned to the lowest sets. These students tend to have much higher representation of low socioeconomic class…’ Here, ‘most significant impact’ and ‘significantly -and negatively-affect’ means the same. In addition, ‘assigned to’ and ‘placed to’ are synonyms. ‘Lower sets’ = ‘bottom sets’. Furthermore, ‘higher representation’ and ‘large proportion’ are synonyms. ‘low socioeconomic class’= ‘disadvantaged background’
Answer: (32) D
(33) H
Meanwhile, for the 34……………., there appears to be only minimal advantage. A further issue is that teachers tend to 35………..of students in streamed groups.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last two lines of the paragraph. ‘Less significant is the small benefit for those lucky clever students in the higher sets. The overall result is that the smart stay smart and the dumb get dumber. further entrenching the social divide…’ Here, ‘small benefit’ and ‘minimal advantage’ are synonyms. ‘lucky clever students in the higher sets…’ refers to ‘brightest students’. In addition, in 8th paragraph, ‘Streaming students by diagnosed achievement automatically limits what the teacher feels the student is capable of…’ This line means it lower the expectation of teachers. ‘Limits’ = ‘lower’
Answer: (34) E (35) B
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
A wrong classes
Blowerexpectations
C average learners
D bottom sets
E brightest pupils
F disadvantaged backgrounds
G weaker students
H higher achievement
I positive Impressions
Questions 36-40
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
36. The Vygotsky model of education supports the concept of a mixed-ability class.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Vygotsky’ helps to locate an answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘ In the 1930s, Vygotsky emphasized the importance of targeting a student’s specific zone of proximal development (ZPD)…’ This model of education emphasize the importance of targeting a specific zone that means it does not supports the concept of a mixed-ability class. Thus, the question statement is contradictory to passage statement.
Answer: No
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
37. Some teachers are uncertain about allowing students to take on MKO roles in the classroom.
Location: 10th paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keyword ‘MKO’ is there in the paragraph. ‘While teachers are traditionally the MKOs in classrooms, the value of knowledgeable student peers must not go unrecognised either….’ But there is no information related to teachers are uncertain about allowing students to take on MKO roles in the classroom. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
38. It can be rewarding to teach knowledge which you have only recently acquired.
Location: 11th paragraph
Explanation: The writer says in the second last line, ‘There is also something exciting about passing on skills and knowledge that you yourself have just mastered-a certain pride and zeal…’ Here, ‘exciting’ and ‘rewarding’ means the same. ‘Only recently acquired’ has been written as ‘just mastered’ in the passage. Thus, the answer is Yes.
Answer: Yes
‘The case for mixed-ability class’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
39. The priority should be to ensure that the highest-achieving students attain their goals.
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘And today, more than ever, we need the many to flourish-not suffer at the expense of a few bright stars…’ Here, this means writer states that all other students should not be suffered due to bright stars. Here, ‘bright stars’ and highest-achieving students’ means the same. Thus, the question statement is opposite to passage statement.
Answer: No
40. Taking part in collaborative outdoor activities with teachers and classmates can improve student outcomes in the classroom.
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The writer talks about collaborative environment helps in improving learning or social skills in the beginning of the paragraph. But there is no information related to taking part in collaborative outdoor activities. Thus, no information available
Answer: Not Given
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