Standardized Testing: Just What the Teacher Ordered
Standardized testing of students means that all students are given the same test or same kind of test. Standardized testing can be stressful, but ultimately it is useful for both students and teachers. The students’ scores show the effectiveness of the teacher. If students do not show good results, the teacher can be held responsible. A student’s scores also can be used by teachers to pinpoint the student's weak areas. Standardized testing makes sure that no student is ever ignored. Standardized testing also allows teachers to see how the student compares with other students in other schools or states. In this way, schools can pinpoint if the problem is with the student or with the school itself. Best of all, standardized tests allow students to be graded fairly. Students will no longer suffer because a teacher favors certain students. Instead, all students will be treated the same, regardless of their backgrounds or differences.

Standardized Testing: A Monster Out of Control
Standardized testing of students means that all students are given the same test or same kind of test. Standardized testing is often harmful to students. Standardized testing gives importance only to what the student puts down on their test. The overall performance of the student in other areas, such as art and sports, doesn’t count. Studies have shown that standardized testing causes stress to both students and teachers. Many teachers only teach test questions. Teaching this way limits children’s imaginations and creativity. Standardized testing also does not take into account the different backgrounds that children come from and the different problems they may face. Such tests ignore the uniqueness and differences of students.

Select the correct answer.
What do the two passages have in common?
A.
They both claim that standardized tests can be stressful.
B.
They both claim that standardized tests will make grading easier for teachers.
C.
They both claim that standardized tests will create stress for teachers and students.
D.
They both claim that standardized tests will hold teachers more accountable.
E.
They both claim that standardized tests will make students more active in learning.

(20 points) passage: this year will be a record-breaking year for storms 1it looks like 2012 will be a year for the record books. thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes have increased across the country. the storms' high winds and heavy rains are making history. early tornado and hurricane seasons 2in march, not usually a busy month for tornadoes, the south and midwest had a large number of twisters. warm weather made conditions ripe for the creation of tornadoes. on some days, twisters dropped from the sky by the dozen. 3hurricane season also came early. two tropical storms hit the southeast in may. two more strong storms followed in june. severe thunderstorms 4many states that have escaped tornadoes and hurricanes have had severe thunderstorms. these giant storms dumped several inches of rain and caused flooding across the northeast and midwest. 5the end of hurricane season is months away, and this year's storm count and rainfall amounts could leave 2011 in the dust. forecasters say the wet, windy weather might stick around until fall. labor day parade rained out 6there is no joy in green town, where the annual labor day parade was called off because of heavy rain. the town's mayor says the parade hasn't been rained out in fifty years. 7a strong band of thunderstorms hit green town on sunday. more than two inches of rain fell each hour. by monday morning, main street looked more like a creek than a parade route. mayor nora bell said she had to call off the parade. "the heavy rains have created a serious safety issue in green town," she said. 8the loss of the labor day parade is green town's second disappointment this summer. in may, the memorial day parade was also called off because of rain. "this must be one of the wettest summers in history," mayor bell said. 9according to the national weather service, mayor bell is right. this summer will break rainfall records in green town and across the country. question: who would obtain the most useful information from the passage? a) someone planning a holiday picnic. b) someone interested in documenting annual meteorological patterns. c) an advocate for the green town labor day parade. d) someone who wishes to do research on the alleged truth of the "global warming" phenomenon.