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Counterclaims and rebuttals in arguments
9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: RI.9-10.8, W.9-10.1.B · England: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q4 and Q5, AP Language
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Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?
Imagine a school week that ends on Thursday afternoon. For students in a growing number of schools around the world, this is no longer a fantasy. I believe secondary schools should at least trial a four-day week.
The strongest reason is wellbeing. Many teenagers report feeling exhausted by the end of the week, and a longer weekend could give them time to rest, exercise and pursue interests that school leaves no room for.
Supporters also point to attendance. In one regional pilot involving twelve schools, attendance rose by three percentage points after the change. That may sound small, but across a year it adds up to thousands of extra lessons attended.
Critics argue that working parents would struggle with childcare on the fifth day. This is a serious concern. However, schools could offer an optional supervised study day, run by staff and volunteers, so that no family is left without support.
Others worry that students will learn less. Yet schools in the pilot lengthened each remaining day by forty minutes, so total teaching time hardly changed.
A trial costs little and teaches us a lot. If it fails, we can change back. If it works, students will thank us for it.
Question 1
Read "Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?". How does the writer respond to the concern about childcare?
- A. says parents should stay at home
- B. admits it is serious, then proposes an optional supervised study day
- C. agrees that the idea should be dropped
- D. ignores it completely
Question 2
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Libraries are still essential in the digital age." Counterclaim: "Everything is online now." Which is the best rebuttal? → Not everyone has reliable internet at home, and libraries provide free access to it.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
Question 3
Claim: "Exams should be replaced by coursework." Which sentence is a REBUTTAL?
- A. Coursework lets students show their skills over time.
- B. Exams cause stress for many students.
- C. Some people say coursework is easier to cheat on.
- D. While some say coursework is easier to cheat on, regular check-ins with teachers can verify a student's own work.
Beavers Come Home
Four hundred years after they were hunted to extinction in Britain, beavers are back. Small populations now live wild in parts of Scotland and England, and several other European countries have reintroduced them too.
Ecologists describe beavers as "ecosystem engineers". By building dams, they create ponds and wetlands that slow the flow of water, trap sediment and provide homes for insects, amphibians and birds. In one Devon study, the amount of water flowing downstream during heavy rain was noticeably lower below beaver dams than above them, suggesting that dams can help reduce flooding.
Not everyone is delighted. Some farmers report flooded fields and felled trees, and they worry about the cost. Their concerns are real, and schemes in some areas now compensate landowners or move beavers whose dams cause serious damage.
Supporters argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. Wetlands created by beavers can store water during droughts, improve water quality and attract visitors. Yet researchers caution that results vary from river to river, and long-term data are still limited.
What is clear is that the return of beavers forces us to ask a broader question: how much room are we willing to make for wild animals in a crowded country?
Question 4
Read "Beavers Come Home". How does the writer treat the farmers' concerns in paragraph 3?
- A. says beavers should be banned
- B. dismisses them as silly
- C. ignores them
- D. acknowledges them as real and describes measures to address them
Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?
Imagine a school week that ends on Thursday afternoon. For students in a growing number of schools around the world, this is no longer a fantasy. I believe secondary schools should at least trial a four-day week.
The strongest reason is wellbeing. Many teenagers report feeling exhausted by the end of the week, and a longer weekend could give them time to rest, exercise and pursue interests that school leaves no room for.
Supporters also point to attendance. In one regional pilot involving twelve schools, attendance rose by three percentage points after the change. That may sound small, but across a year it adds up to thousands of extra lessons attended.
Critics argue that working parents would struggle with childcare on the fifth day. This is a serious concern. However, schools could offer an optional supervised study day, run by staff and volunteers, so that no family is left without support.
Others worry that students will learn less. Yet schools in the pilot lengthened each remaining day by forty minutes, so total teaching time hardly changed.
A trial costs little and teaches us a lot. If it fails, we can change back. If it works, students will thank us for it.
Question 5
Read "Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?". How does the writer respond to the concern about childcare?
- A. admits it is serious, then proposes an optional supervised study day
- B. ignores it completely
- C. agrees that the idea should be dropped
- D. says parents should stay at home
Question 6
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Single-use plastic bottles should be banned at events." Counterclaim: "People need water, especially in summer." Which is the best rebuttal? → Free refill stations would keep everyone hydrated without single-use bottles.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
Question 7
Claim: "Students should learn to code at school." Which sentence is a COUNTERCLAIM?
- A. Critics argue that coding tools change so fast that what students learn will soon be out of date.
- B. Many jobs now require digital skills.
- C. Coding teaches logical thinking.
- D. However, problem-solving skills last even when tools change.
Beavers Come Home
Four hundred years after they were hunted to extinction in Britain, beavers are back. Small populations now live wild in parts of Scotland and England, and several other European countries have reintroduced them too.
Ecologists describe beavers as "ecosystem engineers". By building dams, they create ponds and wetlands that slow the flow of water, trap sediment and provide homes for insects, amphibians and birds. In one Devon study, the amount of water flowing downstream during heavy rain was noticeably lower below beaver dams than above them, suggesting that dams can help reduce flooding.
Not everyone is delighted. Some farmers report flooded fields and felled trees, and they worry about the cost. Their concerns are real, and schemes in some areas now compensate landowners or move beavers whose dams cause serious damage.
Supporters argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. Wetlands created by beavers can store water during droughts, improve water quality and attract visitors. Yet researchers caution that results vary from river to river, and long-term data are still limited.
What is clear is that the return of beavers forces us to ask a broader question: how much room are we willing to make for wild animals in a crowded country?
Question 8
Read "Beavers Come Home". How does the writer treat the farmers' concerns in paragraph 3?
- A. ignores them
- B. dismisses them as silly
- C. acknowledges them as real and describes measures to address them
- D. says beavers should be banned
Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?
Imagine a school week that ends on Thursday afternoon. For students in a growing number of schools around the world, this is no longer a fantasy. I believe secondary schools should at least trial a four-day week.
The strongest reason is wellbeing. Many teenagers report feeling exhausted by the end of the week, and a longer weekend could give them time to rest, exercise and pursue interests that school leaves no room for.
Supporters also point to attendance. In one regional pilot involving twelve schools, attendance rose by three percentage points after the change. That may sound small, but across a year it adds up to thousands of extra lessons attended.
Critics argue that working parents would struggle with childcare on the fifth day. This is a serious concern. However, schools could offer an optional supervised study day, run by staff and volunteers, so that no family is left without support.
Others worry that students will learn less. Yet schools in the pilot lengthened each remaining day by forty minutes, so total teaching time hardly changed.
A trial costs little and teaches us a lot. If it fails, we can change back. If it works, students will thank us for it.
Question 9
Read "Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?". How does the writer respond to the concern about childcare?
- A. ignores it completely
- B. says parents should stay at home
- C. admits it is serious, then proposes an optional supervised study day
- D. agrees that the idea should be dropped
Question 10
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Exams should be replaced by coursework." Which sentence is a REBUTTAL? → While some say coursework is easier to cheat on, regular check-ins with teachers can verify a student's own work.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
Question 11
Claim: "Libraries are still essential in the digital age." Counterclaim: "Everything is online now." Which is the best rebuttal?
- A. Libraries are quiet.
- B. Online shopping is popular.
- C. Books smell nice.
- D. Not everyone has reliable internet at home, and libraries provide free access to it.
Beavers Come Home
Four hundred years after they were hunted to extinction in Britain, beavers are back. Small populations now live wild in parts of Scotland and England, and several other European countries have reintroduced them too.
Ecologists describe beavers as "ecosystem engineers". By building dams, they create ponds and wetlands that slow the flow of water, trap sediment and provide homes for insects, amphibians and birds. In one Devon study, the amount of water flowing downstream during heavy rain was noticeably lower below beaver dams than above them, suggesting that dams can help reduce flooding.
Not everyone is delighted. Some farmers report flooded fields and felled trees, and they worry about the cost. Their concerns are real, and schemes in some areas now compensate landowners or move beavers whose dams cause serious damage.
Supporters argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. Wetlands created by beavers can store water during droughts, improve water quality and attract visitors. Yet researchers caution that results vary from river to river, and long-term data are still limited.
What is clear is that the return of beavers forces us to ask a broader question: how much room are we willing to make for wild animals in a crowded country?
Question 12
Read "Beavers Come Home". How does the writer treat the farmers' concerns in paragraph 3?
- A. dismisses them as silly
- B. ignores them
- C. says beavers should be banned
- D. acknowledges them as real and describes measures to address them
Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?
Imagine a school week that ends on Thursday afternoon. For students in a growing number of schools around the world, this is no longer a fantasy. I believe secondary schools should at least trial a four-day week.
The strongest reason is wellbeing. Many teenagers report feeling exhausted by the end of the week, and a longer weekend could give them time to rest, exercise and pursue interests that school leaves no room for.
Supporters also point to attendance. In one regional pilot involving twelve schools, attendance rose by three percentage points after the change. That may sound small, but across a year it adds up to thousands of extra lessons attended.
Critics argue that working parents would struggle with childcare on the fifth day. This is a serious concern. However, schools could offer an optional supervised study day, run by staff and volunteers, so that no family is left without support.
Others worry that students will learn less. Yet schools in the pilot lengthened each remaining day by forty minutes, so total teaching time hardly changed.
A trial costs little and teaches us a lot. If it fails, we can change back. If it works, students will thank us for it.
Question 13
Read "Should Secondary Schools Try a Four-Day Week?". How does the writer respond to the concern about childcare?
- A. agrees that the idea should be dropped
- B. says parents should stay at home
- C. ignores it completely
- D. admits it is serious, then proposes an optional supervised study day
Question 14
Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Exams should be replaced by coursework." Which sentence is a REBUTTAL? → Coursework lets students show their skills over time.
- A. yes, it is correct
- B. no, it is not correct
Question 15
Claim: "Cities should plant more trees." Counterclaim: "Trees are expensive to maintain." Which is the best rebuttal?
- A. Studies show city trees save more in cooling and flood costs than they cost to look after.
- B. Trees are beautiful.
- C. Some trees are very old.
- D. Maintenance is a long word.
Beavers Come Home
Four hundred years after they were hunted to extinction in Britain, beavers are back. Small populations now live wild in parts of Scotland and England, and several other European countries have reintroduced them too.
Ecologists describe beavers as "ecosystem engineers". By building dams, they create ponds and wetlands that slow the flow of water, trap sediment and provide homes for insects, amphibians and birds. In one Devon study, the amount of water flowing downstream during heavy rain was noticeably lower below beaver dams than above them, suggesting that dams can help reduce flooding.
Not everyone is delighted. Some farmers report flooded fields and felled trees, and they worry about the cost. Their concerns are real, and schemes in some areas now compensate landowners or move beavers whose dams cause serious damage.
Supporters argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. Wetlands created by beavers can store water during droughts, improve water quality and attract visitors. Yet researchers caution that results vary from river to river, and long-term data are still limited.
What is clear is that the return of beavers forces us to ask a broader question: how much room are we willing to make for wild animals in a crowded country?
Question 16
Read "Beavers Come Home". How does the writer treat the farmers' concerns in paragraph 3?
- A. acknowledges them as real and describes measures to address them
- B. dismisses them as silly
- C. ignores them
- D. says beavers should be banned
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