Tips: Separate the decision being discussed from one participant’s preferred project.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Whether to hire more science teachers or arts teachers.: The options are facilities funded from capital money; hiring science or arts teachers is not proposed.
• Whether to increase student enrolment in technology programmes.: Higher science enrolment is a reason offered for a STEM lab, not a decision to increase enrolment.
• Whether to apply for additional funding from the provincial government.: The board has already confirmed money is left over; the question is how to use it, not how to obtain another provincial grant.

Correct Answer: Science and technology enrolment has jumped and provincial guidelines emphasise applied learning.

Why this is correct: The person in the centre cites rising science and technology enrolment and provincial emphasis on applied learning, with existing clubs crowded into classrooms.

Tips: Follow the scope of the question and distinguish the stated point from other suggestions.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The school recently lost its science accreditation and needs a new facility.: Lost accreditation is not reported.
• Parents have petitioned the school board to prioritise STEM education.: A parent petition is not cited.
• The school has already received donated robotics equipment that needs a home.: Equipment donation is only a potential future partnership, not an already received fact.

Correct Answer: Drama and visual arts use makeshift spaces and risk being sidelined.

Why this is correct: When the arts-studio alternative is introduced, the concern is that drama and visual arts have used makeshift spaces and could be sidelined by prioritising STEM. Maintenance-related funding worries are raised later.

Tips: Use the reason at the stage named by the question, while keeping later concerns distinct.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The STEM lab would be too expensive to maintain long-term.: Later maintenance worries are relevant to the discussion, but they are not the initial arts-studio rationale requested.
• There is not enough student interest in STEM subjects.: Insufficient STEM interest is not claimed; increased enrolment is reported.
• The school should focus on athletics instead of academics.: Athletics are not proposed as the priority.

Correct Answer: Through potential partnerships with local tech firms in Mississauga that could donate equipment.

Why this is correct: The person in the centre sees possible Mississauga tech-firm partnerships, including donated equipment and mentoring, as a way to reduce long-term costs.

Tips: Follow the scope of the question and distinguish the stated point from other suggestions.

Why the other options are wrong:

• By reducing maintenance staff in other parts of the school.: Cutting maintenance staff elsewhere is not proposed.
• By charging students a lab fee each semester.: Student lab fees are not proposed.
• By applying for a provincial maintenance grant.: A provincial maintenance grant is not proposed.

Correct Answer: If arts classes are not displaced in the meantime.

Why this is correct: The person on the right could support the lab only if arts classes are not displaced or squeezed out.

Tips: Final support often includes one clear condition. Look for words like provided or on the condition.

Why the other options are wrong:

• If the STEM lab is available for community use on weekends.: Weekend community access is not the person on the right's condition.
• If the STEM lab includes a dedicated space for digital arts.: A dedicated digital-arts space is not the stated condition.
• If the school board increases overall funding for extracurricular activities.: An overall extracurricular funding increase is not the condition stated.

Correct Answer: Upfront costs are similar, but the STEM lab has higher ongoing maintenance.

Why this is correct: The person on the left says upfront costs are close, while STEM equipment servicing and software licences create higher ongoing maintenance.

Tips: Follow the scope of the question and distinguish the stated point from other suggestions.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The STEM lab costs less both upfront and to maintain.: The person on the left says upfront costs are close and STEM maintenance is higher.
• The arts studio costs less upfront but more to maintain.: The person on the left identifies higher maintenance for STEM, not the arts studio.
• Both proposals have identical ongoing costs and require no equipment servicing.: Maintenance costs are discussed and not ignored. STEM equipment servicing and licences create higher ongoing costs.

Correct Answer: They are not guaranteed, and an eventual maintenance shortfall could lead to arts cuts.

Why this is correct: The person on the right worries about sidelining the arts. The person on the right fears arts funding could be cut later. Partnerships are not guaranteed, so a maintenance shortfall could lead to those later cuts.

Tips: When asked about concerns, listen for negative words like worry or uneasy.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Partners would require every student to pay a new lab fee.: A compulsory student fee is not the person on the right's concern.
• Technology firms would control the school's curriculum.: Curriculum control is not the concern the person on the right states.
• Arts funding has already been removed from the current budget.: The person on the right warns about possible later arts cuts; the person on the right does not say funding has already been removed.

Correct Answer: Try the approach and see what happens.

Why this is correct: After the person on the left describes protected arts space as workable, the person in the centre says to try the approach and see what happens; no board recommendation drafter is assigned.

Tips: The last speaker often states the next step.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Begin storage-wing renovation immediately.: Immediate storage-wing work is not announced.
• Hold a student vote before considering any approach.: They do not plan to poll students.
• Confirm all technology partnerships before further discussion.: The closing line does not require confirmed partnerships before discussion continues.