This question is based on the following paragraph.
(1) After my interview with these four young people, I reflected on the quiet sense of "difference" I sensed
with many of these Upward Bound students. (2) As a college teacher who has also taught seventh-grade
science, I have some experience with the faces and attitudes of adolescence. (3) Upward Bound students
had those faces. (4) There was the puzzled coping with changing bodies—hormone hell. (5) There was
ambivalence about "authority figures" and uncertainties about whether or not the world would have some
place for them. (6) There were the studied rationalizations about lapses on homework assignments,
moments of despair, adolescent angst—all of that. (7) But there was also that "difference." (8) Maybe it's
one part knowing people care and one part beginning to trust the future. (9) I wasn't sure.
(Turner, "Onward and Upward: Upward Bound Helps Open College Doors," Virginia Journal of Education,
June 1992. Adapted as fair usage.)
16. Which statement best summarizes the conclusion one may draw from this passage?
A. One can draw no conclusions about the "difference" shown by Upward Students
B. It is clear that positive role models and emotional support are keys to success.
C. Adolescents need a firm hand.
D. The "difference" may result from emotional support and increased self-confidence.
D?
Right.
To arrive at the correct answer, we need to carefully analyze the passage and consider the evidence and reasoning provided.
The relevant information can be found in sentences (7) and (8): "But there was also that 'difference.' Maybe it's one part knowing people care and one part beginning to trust the future."
From these statements, we can infer that the "difference" observed in the Upward Bound students could potentially be attributed to two factors - knowing that people care and beginning to trust the future.
Option D, "The 'difference' may result from emotional support and increased self-confidence," accurately reflects this conclusion. The passage suggests that emotional support and an increased sense of self-confidence may contribute to the observed "difference" in the students.
Therefore, the correct answer is D.