Tips: Listen for the speaker's own opinion and how sure the speaker is.

Why the other options are wrong:

• harm rural education in most cases, and the harm usually shows up in test scores.: The speaker says the harm is not always visible in test scores. So the harm does not usually show up there.
• harm rural education less than many think, since smaller classes can fill the gaps.: This is the view of the cautious educators and analysts. The speaker disagrees and says shortages do affect quality.
• harm rural education in most cases, mainly by pushing tired teachers to quit.: Burnout is the worry of the middle group. The speaker never says burnout is the main way shortages cause harm.

Correct Answer: one certified teacher may end up teaching several subjects across grades.

Why this is correct: The principal describes one certified teacher who taught three subjects across two grades. This shows how empty positions stretch one teacher.

Tips: When you hear an example, notice exactly who it is about and what that person did.

Why the other options are wrong:

• one short-term substitute may end up teaching several subjects across grades.: Schools do use short-term substitutes. But the principal's story is about one certified teacher, not a substitute.
• students may find it harder to trust adults when teachers keep changing.: Trust is an argument from the supporters of this view. The principal's story is about one teacher's workload, not about trust.
• one certified teacher may stay on for years despite a heavy workload.: Staying for years is a point from the cautious group. The principal never says how long this teacher stayed.

Correct Answer: smaller classes can sometimes make up for staffing gaps.

Why this is correct: Dr. Tremblay says smaller classes in rural schools can sometimes offset staffing gaps. This is because students get more individual attention.

Tips: When a person is named, link each idea to the right speaker.

Why the other options are wrong:

• many rural teachers are committed to their towns and stay for years.: Some educators and policy analysts make this point. The report does not give these words to Dr. Tremblay.
• strong community involvement can sometimes make up for staffing gaps.: Community involvement is named as a strength by the cautious group. Dr. Tremblay talks about smaller classes, not community involvement.
• rural schools are about twice as likely to leave jobs unfilled.: This figure comes from a Statistics Canada report. It supports the other side, not Dr. Tremblay.

Correct Answer: those who praise rural teachers and worry that they will burn out.

Why this is correct: The middle group praises rural teachers but worries about burnout. The survey backs this up, because many teachers called their extra duties unsustainable.

Tips: When a survey is mentioned, decide which group's argument it helps.

Why the other options are wrong:

• parents and principals who say shortages clearly harm education quality.: Parents and administrators support their view with a principal's story and a Statistics Canada report. The survey is about teachers' extra duties and burnout.
• educators who say counting staff misses other strengths of rural schools.: The cautious group says head counts miss other strengths. The survey shows a problem, so it does not support this group.
• the speaker, who wants housing support and paid practicums for new teachers.: Housing support and paid practicums are the speaker's own plan for attracting new teachers. The survey is used for the middle group's burnout worry.

Correct Answer: appreciative, treating them as helpful, not as a full fix for staffing.

Why this is correct: The speaker says community strength and teacher dedication help. This sounds appreciative. But the speaker adds they cannot fully replace stable staffing.

Tips: Notice whether the speaker praises something, doubts it, or does both.

Why the other options are wrong:

• enthusiastic, treating them as the real answer to the shortages.: The speaker values these strengths but says they cannot fully replace stable staffing. So they are not the real answer.
• dismissive, treating them as making little difference to students.: The speaker says these strengths help. So the speaker does not dismiss them.
• admiring, treating them as reasons to stop worrying about staffing.: The cautious group is less worried about shortages. The speaker still worries and calls for action on staffing.

Correct Answer: She might have stayed if she had taught only what she trained in.

Why this is correct: The neighbour left because she kept covering subjects she was never trained to teach. So teaching only her own subjects might have kept her.

Tips: When someone explains why a person left, think about what might have changed the decision.

Why the other options are wrong:

• She might have stayed if her classes had been smaller.: Smaller classes come up in Dr. Tremblay's point. The neighbour's reason for leaving was the subjects she had to cover.
• She might have stayed if she had liked her students more.: The speaker says she did not leave because she disliked her students. So liking them more would not change anything.
• She might have stayed if she had been offered housing support.: Housing support is offered to attract new teachers. Nothing suggests housing was her problem. She left because of the subjects.