Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 40: Answer and Explanation

Question: 40

Text 1

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teenagers (13-18 years old) should aim for 8-10 hours of sleep during each 24-hour period. According to a national survey, however, 73 percent of students reported not getting enough sleep during school nights.

Text 2

The early start time for high school is a major problem for students. When I was of high school age, I found it exceedingly difficult to fall asleep before midnight, despite my best efforts to go to bed around 10 PM. When the alarm clock woke me up at 6 AM, I was exhausted and certainly not in the best frame of mind to learn.

What would the authors of the texts most likely consider to be a reasonable solution to teenage sleep deprivation?

• A. Mandate that high school students get at least 12 hours of sleep every evening
• B. Find an alternative waking notification method to the relatively shrill noise of an alarm clock
• C. Shift the start time of high school to later in the day so students can get more sleep
• D. Educate teens on the importance of being alert during the school day so that they can maximize learning

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) Text 1 states that 73 percent of students are not getting enough sleep during school nights, and Text 2 gives a personal anecdote about the difficulty of getting to sleep as a high school student. Putting these arguments together, both authors would likely consider shifting the start time of high school to later in the day to be a good solution. It is not (A), because this would be too extreme a solution. It is not (B), because the issue is not about the annoyance from an alarm clock but about the lack of sleep. It is not (D), because a lack of education does not seem to be at the heart of the issue.