Why the other options are wrong:

• an increase in education taxes across the province.: There is no mention of increasing education taxes in the report.
• a strike vote planned by Ontario teachers.: The report is about a deal being reached, not a strike vote being planned.
• changes to high school class sizes in Toronto.: The report is about a province-wide contract, not about class sizes in Toronto specifically.

Correct Answer: three years, ending in 2028.

Why this is correct: The transcript clearly states the proposed contract would run for three years, starting this September and ending in August 2028. This matches the answer exactly.

Why the other options are wrong:

• until the next provincial election.: The report does not link the contract length to the next provincial election.
• two years, ending in 2027.: Two years and 2027 are both incorrect - the contract is three years ending in 2028.
• four years, starting next January.: The contract starts in September, not January, and it lasts three years, not four.

Correct Answer: existing limits on class sizes.

Why this is correct: The transcript says the agreement maintains current class size limits, which had been a key concern for union members. So existing class size limits were kept in the new deal.

Why the other options are wrong:

• shorter school days for students.: There is no mention of shorter school days for students.
• higher standards for new hiring.: Higher standards for new hiring are not discussed in the report.
• reduced workloads for administrators.: Reduced workloads for administrators are not mentioned.

Correct Answer: preventing disruptions to students' learning.

Why this is correct: OSSTF president Karen Littlewood said the deal provides stability for students and families. She added that avoiding labour disruptions was a priority during negotiations. So preventing disruptions to learning was a priority she identified during negotiations.

Why the other options are wrong:

• reducing class sizes in urban schools.: The deal maintains current class sizes rather than reducing them further.
• increasing education taxes.: Increasing education taxes was not mentioned by the union president.
• delaying the start of the school year.: The union president wanted to avoid disruptions, not delay the school year.

Correct Answer: generally positive and reassuring.

Why this is correct: Both sides express satisfaction with the deal. The union calls it a fair compromise, and the minister says it keeps students in class. The report ends with the expectation of continued schooling without interruption, which is reassuring.

Why the other options are wrong:

• uncertain and strongly negative.: The report is generally positive and reassuring, although the tentative agreement still needs member approval. It is not strongly negative.
• critical of both sides in the talks.: Both sides appear pleased, so the report is not critical of either side.
• urgent and warning of immediate conflict.: There is no sense of urgency or warning of conflict in the report.