Point at Issue Drill Pack

Question 1

Kim: "The city should build the new stadium downtown because it will create jobs." Lee: "The stadium will create jobs, but they will mostly be low-wage seasonal jobs, so the city should not build it."

Kim and Lee disagree about whether

1. A. the stadium will create jobs
2. B. the city should build the stadium
3. C. jobs are important to the city
4. D. downtown needs development
5. E. seasonal jobs are better than no jobs

Answer: ______

Question 2

Dana: "We should keep the school open during the summer for remedial classes, since students fall behind over the break." Eli: "Summer classes would help struggling students, but the building needs repairs that can only happen when it is empty, so we should close it."

The point at issue is whether

1. A. students fall behind over the summer
2. B. the building needs repairs
3. C. the school should stay open in the summer
4. D. remedial classes are effective
5. E. repairs can happen while classes run

Answer: ______

Question 3

Nora: "The new tax will hurt small businesses, so the council should vote it down." Owen: "The tax might pinch small businesses, but the roads it funds will help them more, so the council should pass it."

Nora and Owen disagree about whether

1. A. the tax will affect small businesses
2. B. roads need funding
3. C. the council should pass the tax
4. D. small businesses matter
5. E. the tax will raise enough money

Answer: ______

Question 4

Amara: "Rent control should be expanded citywide, because it is the fastest way to keep housing affordable for current residents." Ben: "Rent control might help current residents, but it reduces the incentive to build new housing, which makes the shortage worse over time."

The dialogue provides the most support for the claim that Amara and Ben disagree about whether

1. A. housing affordability matters at all
2. B. current residents deserve affordable housing
3. C. rent control helps current residents afford housing
4. D. expanded rent control is, on balance, good policy
5. E. new housing should be built in the city

Answer: ______

Question 5

Lena: "The school should start classes at 9 a.m. because teenagers learn better with more sleep." Marco: "Starting at 9 would force after-school programs to end too late, so the school should keep the 8 a.m. start."

Lena and Marco disagree about whether

1. A. teenagers need more sleep
2. B. after-school programs matter
3. C. the school should move to a 9 a.m. start time
4. D. learning is important
5. E. 8 a.m. is too early for teenagers

Answer: ______

Question 6

Omar: "The city should fund the arts center because it will attract tourists and boost local business." Priya: "Tourism revenue is unpredictable, so the city should fund the arts center because residents deserve cultural spaces, not because of tourists."

Omar and Priya disagree about whether

1. A. the city should fund the arts center
2. B. tourism boosts local business
3. C. the arts center should be funded because it attracts tourists
4. D. residents deserve cultural spaces
5. E. the arts center will be expensive

Answer: ______

Question 7

Ruth: "We should require helmets for bike-share riders, since head injuries are the main risk in bike crashes." Sam: "Helmet rules would cut ridership in half, and fewer riders means the program fails. We should skip the requirement."

Ruth and Sam disagree about whether

1. A. head injuries are the main risk in bike crashes
2. B. bike-share programs are worthwhile
3. C. helmets should be required for bike-share riders
4. D. ridership would fall under a helmet rule
5. E. bike crashes happen often

Answer: ______

Question 8

Ana: "We should order pizza because it is cheap." Ben: "Pizza is cheap, but half the team hates it, so we should order tacos."

Ana and Ben disagree about whether

1. A. pizza is cheap
2. B. the team should order pizza
3. C. tacos are cheap
4. D. the team likes pizza
5. E. food matters

Answer: ______

Question 9

Tara: "The new mall will revive downtown because shoppers will come for the stores and stay for the restaurants." Umar: "Shoppers may come, but the mall's chain stores will drive local shops out of business, so downtown will be worse off."

Tara and Umar disagree about whether

1. A. shoppers will visit the mall
2. B. the mall will, on balance, help downtown
3. C. restaurants benefit from nearby stores
4. D. local shops matter
5. E. the mall will have chain stores

Answer: ______

Question 10

Vera: "The dam should be removed because it blocks salmon migration, and the salmon run matters more than the dam's power." Walt: "Removing the dam would flood downstream farms during spring runoff, so the dam should stay."

Vera and Walt disagree about whether

1. A. the dam blocks salmon migration
2. B. salmon runs matter
3. C. removing the dam would flood downstream farms
4. D. the dam should be removed
5. E. the dam produces power

Answer: ______